In the Arthurian legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain accepts the challenge from the Green Knight to allow any opponent to strike his neck with an axe that he holds. In return the opponent must travel to the Green Knight's castle in one year to accept a similar blow in return. Gawain takes the axe and with one blow beheads the Green Knight. All are amazed when the Green Knight gets to his feet and retrieves his head and rides off reminding Gawain of his agreement. The story concludes when Gawain meets with the Green Knight at the specified time. Gawain is 'spared' when after three attempts with the axe Gawain receives only a minor wound to his neck. Gawain returns as the most chivalrous knight of King Arthur's court.

There are several interesting aspects of the story written in the 14th century, (author anonymous). When the Green Knight first appears in the court of King Arthur he and his horse are clad entirely in green. In one hand he holds an axe and the other a holly branch. The Green Knight perhaps symbolizes death and rebirth. The story describes Gawain's armour in detail. He carries a red shield with a pentangle design on the front to symbolize Gawain is faultless in his five senses and is faithful to the five wounds Christ received on the cross. The inside of his shield is adorned with an image of the Virgin Mary. Also worthy of mention, Gawain sets off on his journey through the cold of winter and encounters fierce creatures, until Christmas Eve when he spots a castle described as a wondrous dwelling  with a moat and many trees. A contrast to the harsh winter landscape hitherto encountered.

The above could almost be construed as a contest between religion and pagan values.

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   Robin Hood dressed in Lincoln green and resided in Sherwood Forest, Nottingham generates all sorts of connotations. Could it be there is an echo of the distant past in the legend?

Then there is the story of John Barleycorn, the poem by Robert Burns.

" They took a plough and plough'd him down, put clods upon his head.

And as they hae sworn a solemn oath, John Barleycorn was dead.

But the cheerfu' Spring came kindly on, and show'rs began to fall,

John Barleycorn got up again, and sore surprised them all.

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If we look at some of our ancient customs and legends they give us clues to the Green Man's possible origins.

Folk customs occur all over Europe where a man dressed in foliage is ceremonially 'put to death' to bring about regeneration. Similarly Jack-in the-Green is 'executed' to 'renew the world'. This takes place during the Pagan festival known as Beltane (1st May) and celebrates the coming of spring and the rebirth of the earth. In Hastings an annual ceremony is held where Jack-in-the Green in the form of a towering framework of leaves, which a man inside carries accompanied by a figure known as 'Black Sal'  and a team of men who support him. The climax to the ceremony comes when Jack is 'killed' to release the spirit of summer. This type of folk custom occurs all over Europe where the central character is a foliage clad man.

When you discover the Green Man for the first time you may have a feeling of recognition, as if he is part of our psyche. There has been an upsurge in interest in the Green Man perhaps due to the realization of the damage we are causing to the environment and the many species - including us- who inhabit our planet. Whatever his true meaning,  if you delve into the subject in more detail (see the Links page) you will discover many theories some Pagan, some Christian, some bizarre, some........ well you get the picture, our aim is to display the images and let you decide what he means to you.

©Green Man East Anglia 2007