Hex sign
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Hex signs are a form of folk art, thought by some to be of a talismanic nature, found in the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition.
Artfully painted hex signs, in star-like patterns, are a well-known sight on Pennsylvania Dutch barns in and around central Pennsylvania, especially Berks County, Pennsylvania. In recent years, they may have been increasingly used as decoration rather than as items of folk magic. Some scholars argue that they have never had any connection with superstition or magic. They are viewed as decorative symbols of ethnic identification, possibly originating in reaction to 19th Century attempts made by the government to suppress the Pennsylvania German language. In the 20th Century, mobile signs were produced as commodities. These signs could be bought and then mounted onto barns.
Controversies
Anabaptist sects (like the Amish and Mennonites) in the region have a negative view of hex signs and promulgate derogatory statements against those who use this folk art. It is unsurprising that hex signs are rarely, perhaps never, seen on an Amish or Mennonite household or farm.Derivation
The term hex derives from the Pennsylvanian German word 'Hex' (German 'Hexe'), meaning 'witch'.See also
External links
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