Does Having This On Your Barn In Iowa Mean You’re A Swinger?

Maybe we shouldn't believe everything we read on the internet.

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Years ago, there was a rumor going around about what the star on someone's barn could mean. After a social media post went viral in 2020, people started speculating that if a farmer had a star on the side of their barn then they were "swingers."

For clarification, swingers are people who swap sexual partners...

Here is the text from the meme;

"So this morning, my mom was trying to pull Xmas gift ideas out of us. I mentioned a metal star for the exterior of my house (like in the photo). I was sad when the sellers didn't leave it lol. My sister tells me it's a "swingers code" to attract other couples. WHA? Google confirms. I had NO idea this was a thing!!

Naturally I'm noticing all the houses with stars now and can't help but wonder. I see you, you filthy animals"

Turns out the internet is not correct 100% of the time! Who would've thought that?!?

So what does it actually mean then?

Well, these barn stars originated with the Pennsylvania Dutch when they would paint symbols on their homes and barns. One of those symbols was a star which is considered a sign of protection and good luck.

It became a sort of common decoration in homes and symbolized a warm welcome for visitors at this time!

And the color of the star also has some significance to it as well!

Here are the meanings behind the different stars:

Brown: Friendship & strength

White: Purity & energy

Violet: Holy

Green: Growth & fertility

Blue/Black: Protection

Yellow: Love of man and the sun

But What Do "Star Bolts" On A Barn Mean?

You might have spotted these on brick buildings/barns. These star bolts serve a structural purpose as well as a decorative one. According to Mental Floss, this is the washer of an, "iron rod placed through a sagging or compromised wall to preserve its structural integrity and prevent it from buckling further."

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