A
barnstar (or
barn star, primitive star, or
Pennsylvania star) is a decorative painted object or image, often in the shape of a
five-pointed star but occasionally in a circular "wagon wheel" style, used to adorn a
barn in some parts of the
United States. They have no structural purpose, but may be considered lucky, akin to a
horseshoe mounted over a doorway. They are especially common in
Pennsylvania and frequently seen in
German-American farming communities.