Who is The Green Man?
The Green Man is one of the most visible Pagan references you’ll see in our society. You may have seen the Green Man throughout your city or local church, or even as the name of your local pub. So who is the Green Man, and why does he appear everywhere?
The Green Man is primarily interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, represented in the cycle of growth each spring. He is most commonly depicted as a sculpture or face surrounded by, or made from, leaves. He’s often seen in decorative architectural ornamentation and is frequently found in carvings on both secular and religious buildings. Derivatives of The Green Man are found in many cultures from different time periods around the world.
The Green Man is related to what is called a vegetative deity - a nature God whose life, death and rebirth represents the growth cycle of plants. The deity typically undergoes dismemberment, scattering, and reintegration into the land. The cyclical pattern plays on themes such as immortality, resurrection, and reincarnation.
Vegetation myths also have a resemblance to certain creation myths in which parts of a primordial being's body generate aspects of the cosmos, such as the story of Ymir in Norse Paganism.
The green man often appears as decorative carvings in churches across Europe and is a perfect example of how paganism never fully disappeared. The Pagan perspective of the world persisted side by side with Christianity - it just became expressed in more hidden ways.
To me the Green Man doesn’t represent any one specific Pagan deity, instead he represents the desire to maintain a spiritual connection to the land and the cycles of nature. He is a part of the Pagan psyche, an archetype representing the fertility of the natural world and a way to bridge the gap between the Pagan and Christian worldview.
In many Pagan societies it was believed that Man was born from nature, and was thus directly tied to the fate of nature. In the Green Man we see this fusion of nature and Man represented. This is definitely an important metaphor for us today as we grapple with the effects of climate change. The Green Man reminds us that our fate is forever entwined with the fate of the wider natural world.
The Green Man doesn’t just appear as an architectural feature, he is also woven through European Folklore and traditions. Some people associate the Green Man with "Jack in the Green" which is an English folk custom associated with the celebration of May Day. It involves a wicker or wooden framework that is decorated with foliage and is usually worn by a person as part of a procession.
The Green Man is also a recurring figure in literature. Robin Hood, Peter Pan, and the Green Knight in the story of Sir Gawain are all examples of the presence of the Green Man archetype in English culture.
The Green Man regained a lot of popularity as the wider New Age Movement came into being and many artists continually use this figure for inspiration. For example, The Green Man was the theme of Burning Man in 2007 and the most recent season of Sabrina features The Green Man prominently in the story line.
So, next time you’re walking around your town or visiting a local religious building, keep an eye out for the Green Man - you might just find him.
Comment below your thoughts on my video about The Green Man. I’d also love to hear if you’ve seen any representations of the Green Man in your own city. 🌿