Star (Symbol)
The star (★), as an ideograph, most commonly represents the astronomical star for which it is named.
The five-pointed star, if drawn with points of equal length and angles of 36° at each point, is sometimes termed a golden five pointed star. If the colinear edges are joined together a pentagram is produced, which is the simplest of the unicursal star polygons, and a symbol of mystical and magical significance.
The golden five-pointed star is a very common ideogram in the western world, and has particularly strong associations with military power and war. Many communist countries (such as China and Vietnam) and symbols (the hammer and sickle) also incorporate five-pointed stars.
The five-pointed star appears in the flags of 35 countries, and is thought to have first appeared in 1777 on the flag of the newly declared United States of America. It also appears commonly in the heraldry of the United States, and stands in contrast to the vexillologically rarer seven-pointed star.
The five-pointed star occurs in conjunction with a crescent in the flags of several countries to symbolise Islam, appearing for example as part of the symbol of the Ottoman Empire.
A typical presentation of the Islamic star and crescent.
In philately the five-pointed star signifies stamps that have not been postmarked.
Used as the symbol of the People Nation alliance of gangs from chicago.Blood gangs who origianted from New York known as the UBN also use this as a symbol as they have emualted the People Nation alliance.
In ancient times, the five-pointed star represented the symbol of distraction.
Satanism also has an upside down five point star with a goat's head on the inside of it.
Several varieties of six-pointed stars are used in Western culture:
The Star of David
* If the colinear edges of a regular six-pointed star are connected, so that two interlaced triangles are formed, a symbol results that is variously known as the hexagram, Star of David, or Shield of David (Magen David). This symbol is most commonly associated with Judaism; it is also used in Christianity, but on a less frequent basis.
* The six-pointed Marian Star is a symbol used by Roman Catholics to portray celestial objects, particularly in relation to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
* German and German-American hex signs and barn stars often incorporate both five- and six-pointed stars as central themes.
* The six-pointed star is used as the symbol for Folks Nation alliance of gangs from chicago. Crip gang members tend to use this symbol also.
Apart from the foresaid mentions, six-pointed star formations are rare as an ideograph in Western cultures except in the case of law enforcement badges.In astrology some formations of a six-pointed star can signify fixed stars. In some rare instances it can signify the date of birth on a gravestone, synonymous with the five-point star
A seven-pointed star appears in the flag and heraldic symbolism of Australia. In the Australian context, the seven points represent the six states of Australia (one each) plus one for the combined territories. The seven-pointed stars stand in contrast to the vexillologically more conventional five-pointed stars.
The Seal of the Cherokee Nation has an acute gold seven-pointed star in its seal.
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