What does a large five pointed red star on the outside of a home or garage symbolize?

Answer 1

Barn Stars

The metal (and other material) stars you see on the exterior (or interior) of houses and barns across the Eastern seaboard of the United States are called "Barn Stars", and are associated with a decorating trend called Americana. They have become increasingly popular across the continent, come in varying sizes and shapes and are purely for decorative purposes.

The colors of the barn-stars have no significance what so ever and are sometimes painted with patterns that suit the owners tastes or fashion.

Historically, they have their origin as the markers (or signatures if you will) of popular or skilled builders.

Barn Stars have been classified as an American relic (ergo. "Americana") due to its history predating the American civil war.

Barn stars are decorative pieces nothing more nothing less and can be found for purchase at a local "Farmers Market" or online

An example can be found at the related link listed below:

A Pagan ViewpointBarn stars have of recent times been adopted by by a number of Pagan paths as pre-made and/or readily available symbols of their own faith.

The star or pentacle (usually a star with a circle around it) is a sacred symbol for many Pagans.

Also as colour has great significance to Pagans, -for example: red is most commonly seen as a colour of power- the colour of the star may have importance to the owner of the building.

Contrary to popular belief, Pagans do NOT hang their stars "upside-down", that is a misconception confusing pagans with satanists.

Pennsylvania Dutch Hex Signs.

Stars painted on or added to the exteriors of barns are part of the phenomenon called Pennsylvania Dutch Hex Signs. Pennsylvania Dutch (also known as Pennsylvania German or Deitsch) is an ethnic group, not a religious sect. There are many religious identities among the Deitsch. If one is born in a Christian Deitsch family but converts to a non-Christian religion, he ceases to be Christian but does not cease to be Deitsch. For example, the Heathen path of Urglaawe is based firmly in the Deitsch culture. And the symbols behind "hex signs" and "barn stars" are frequently ancient symbols found in other cultures or have origins in runes. Thus, they do have meaning. Whether the person who displays them knows what that meaning is, however, is a different question, and intention is the driving force of the energy behind practices like Braucherei.

As an interesting addition to the above: The snallygaster is a mythical dragon-like beast said to inhabit the Blue Ridge Mountains near Braddock Heights, Maryland.

The area was settled by German immigrants beginning in the 1730s. Early accounts describe the community being terrorized by a monster called a Schneller Geist, meaning "quick spirit" in German.

The earliest incarnations mixed the half-bird features of a siren with the nightmarish features of demons and ghouls.

The Snallygaster was described as half-reptile, half-bird with a metallic beak lined with razor-sharp teeth, occasionally with octopus-like tentacles.

It swoops silently from the sky to pick up and carry off its victims. The earliest stories claim that this monster sucked the blood of its victims.

Seven-pointed stars, which reputedly kept the snallygaster at bay, can still be seen painted on local barns.

Reminder:

No matter their origin, or original intention, people buy decorative pieces for their homes etc. for their own personal reasons.

If you want to know the meaning of a symbol the best way to find out for sure is ask the person who put it up. "

Answer 2

A SIGNIFICANT EVENT!