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?!?

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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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