Hex Signs: History, Symbology, and Use
About 300 years ago, groups of peasant farmers from the Rhine region of Germany migrated to southeastern Pennsylvania. These settlers came to take advantage of religious freedom being offered by William Penn. They included settlers of plain dress -Amish and Mennonites - and others of more “worldly” or “fancy” dress - Lutherans and other Reformed groups. Over time, these settlers became known as “Pennsylvania Dutch”.
Like other immigrants, they brought their old world language, dress, traditions and art to their new home. Mystical bird and floral designs graced their birth and marriage certificates, family Bibles, quilts, and some furniture. The “fancy” farmers also decorated their large German style bank barns with colorful geometric patterns. Six-pointed star designs were very popular. The German word for six, “sechs”, sounded like hex to their English-speaking neighbors. In time these “hex” patterns became commonly called hex signs. This custom persists today.
These bright, colorful designs had meanings or legends. Families selected a hex sign based on color, design and its meaning. Some of the more popular symbols included: hearts for love, birds (called distelfinks) for luck and happiness, tulips for faith, and stars for good luck. The colors used for painting were also carefully chosen because of their added meaning. Blue conveyed protection, white purity, green abundance and red strong emotion. The hex symbols were individually hand painted for many years. This approach, naturally very time consuming, limited hex sign use and enjoyment even in the Dutch Country.
In the early 1940’s, Jacob Zook, an 11th generation Pennsylvania Dutchman living in the village of Paradise, PA successfully pioneered the hand “silk screening” of hex signs. Here, a “silk screen” is used to apply each of the design’s bright colors to a carefully prepared signboard. Four or five colors are usually used; each color requires it’s own carefully designed screen. With air-drying between steps, a design usually takes about a week to complete. Silk screening, performed by skilled craftsmen, allowed hex signs to be made in quantity at modest cost. Interest in hex signs blossomed once they became readily available. Today, hex signs can be found throughout the world. In many homes, they have been enjoyed for almost three generations.
Wiki has an alternate version of how they’ve come to their name.
There are two opposing schools of belief regarding the derivation of the name. The term hex with occult connotations may derive from the Pennsylvanian German word “hex” (German “Hexe”, Dutch “Heks”), meaning “witch.” However the term “hex sign” was not used until the 20th Century, after 1924 when Wallace Nutting’s book Pennsylvania Beautiful was published.[9] Nutting, who was not a Pennsylvania native, interviewed farmers about their distinctive barn decoration. Before this time there was no standardized term and many Pennsylvania German farmers simply called the signs “blumme” or “schtanne” (meaning flowers or stars). However one farmer used the term “Hexefoos” in his description.[10] The term became popular with Pennsylvania Germans themselves during the blossoming tourist trade of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
In fact there are many stories on how the Hex Sign got its name. That usually happens when something gets that old.
Birds of Paradise: friendship, camaraderie, peace, purity and happiness
Oak Leaf: long life, strength and endurance
Eagle: Strength, courage, clarity or vision
Distelfink: Good luck and happiness. two distelfinks- double good luck and happiness. two distelfinks crossed over each other- true friendship, eternal love
Raindrop: water, crop abundance and fertility. Any combination of water drops may be used depending on the ‘need’ and the overall design
Scalloped border symbolizes smooth sailing
Heart: true love, lasting love, and love for others. Hearts can be drawn in any number of different ways… from simple to fancy depending on the nature of the design.
Crescent Moon: usually found in a pair representing the cycle of the moon. Also found in sets of four representing the four seasons.
Sun Wheel: warmth and fertility
Wheat: abundance and goodwill
Rosette: (considered to be the oldest symbol) good luck
Tulip: faith, hope, charity and trust in mankind
Using Hex Signs in your magic:
Hex signs are primarily used around the home, farm, or business for protection. You chose the symbols you want to use based on the message you want to convey. You can buy a hand crafted sign or you can make one yourself. This would be a great time to get creative. Paint your own sign on a piece of wood and hang it out side your front door or in your living room or kitchen. You could also buy a stained glass kit from your local craft store and make something to hang in your front window. Remember the more energy you put into your magic the more power it has.
Is using a Hex Sign appropriative?:
Good question! I would say no. It’s become so entreched in America’s folk art and lore that at this point it’s basically become pure Americana. In fact many Mennonites and Amish people make Hex Signs just for the purpose of selling them. However, if you’re still feeling iffy on it take a look into your own personal genealogy and see if you have any German in you. If you do, consider one as a tribute to your ancestors that were brave enough to come here and start a new life.
I’m going to end this post with a lovely Irish inspired Hex Sign that I intend to own some day. It’s the perfect combination tribute to my Irish and German heritage.
The design is centered the around the Irish symbol for good luck, the shamrock. It features two Irish Distelfinks which add double good luck to the sign. The trio of tulips represent hope faith and charity. The outer scalloped border is meant to bring smooth sailing throughout your life.
I hope this has inspired you to get a little more creative with your protective charms.
dededos
annaxmalina
theartofmadeline
izzy806
vaporwave
discoholicmusic
andulkaphoto
stormborns
dailybridgerton
