Originally Posted By: Candy
Originally Posted By: Faldage
I have it in my mind that the Amish have what are called hex signs on their barns and they're there to ward off evil. That would be a kind of blessing.


Is it a standard saying?
Can you post what it is?


I'm not sure what part of this you asking if it's a standard saying. And Tromboniator is right, it's from Pennsylvania Dutch. According to the AHD we got the word hex from Pennsylvania Dutch where it referred to sorcery, which could be used for good or evil, I suppose. We, in our callous disregard for meanings of words in languages we steal them from, narrowed it down to a the evil aspect.