Vintage Friday: Hex Sign Art
Pennsylvanians of German descent, sometimes referred to as the Pennsylvania Dutch, not only gave us a revitalized celebration surrounding the ancient traditions of Groundhog Day, they also bestowed upon us delicacies such as funnel cakes and numerous arts and crafts, including the unique decor known as hex signs.
Hex signs are a form of folk art found on barns and houses. Of pagan Germanic origin, a more modern rendition grew out of older
traditions to become prominent in the mid 19th century. Hex signs are now sought after for their beauty as well as any intrinsic meaning assigned by the owner. Beautifully painted, the stylized art is often in the form of a sun and stars, a tree of life, birds, hearts, flowers, or a compass rose. Some use hex signs as talismans for good luck and others merely for décor. The red barn above depicts a stylized sun, whereas the hex sign on the yellow building to the right is a compass rose. The folk art tradition of hex signs is now more popular than ever.
If the mention of funnel cake tickled your taste buds, visit the following site for a step by step pictorial on making the delicious treat: http://thehistorykitchen.com/2013/06/06/funnel-cakes-history-recipe/
My husband loves funnel cakes! 🙂 I live not far from Lancaster, PA, where hex sign folk art is very popular and shops selling them abound. When I was a kid, my father (who was an artist) painted a few on our garage door…very colorful and cheerful!
Oh, how interesting about your father having painted the hex signs. As for funnel cakes, I’d say your husband has excellent taste:)