Peggy sent me a tree picture for Thursday trees. But I found a whole story about it. I love cut and paste!
The Green Man represents the power of nature and the natural world. He is an ancient symbol of nature and fertility, as well as the untamed spirit that lives in all of us.
He is sometimes known as Robin Goodfellowe, Jack o'the Green, Green George, or Robin Hood.
There are many different representations of him through the ages and in different religions, generally showing his face as half human, half vegetation, usually laughing.
You can see him carved in Gothic churches, sewn in Medieval tapestries, carved into trees thought to have special powers, and in many modern forms.
In the past human sacrifices were often made to appease the gods of nature and ensure the health and fertility of the earth. Stories are told of men being chosen to reign as "King of the Wood", or "Rex Nemorensis", for a year and then killed, the slayer taking on the role for the next twelve months. It has been suggested that Robin Hood was a "Rex Nemorensis".
The Green Man dies each year on the 5th of November (The Old English New Year's Day) to the sound of bangs and the sight of bonfires, much later associated with Guy Fawkes. He is reborn on May 1st each year. Spring rites celebrate that Renaissance, and children conceived on that day (particularly as a result of the spring rites!) were known as Robin's Son or Robinson.
Various images of the Green Man are found in Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and Mayan places of worship.
He is a symbol of connecting and interacting with nature, crossing nearly all secular and philosophical boundaries.
As a lover of nature and trees in particular I feel a special bond and felt there should be a group to represent him.
*******
(None of this info has been verified. But it sounds great!)
Posts
12 comments:
I have never heard of the Green Man and assume those faces are carved into that tree? It wouldn't grow that many faces naturally, but I do love how it looks.
River - Definitely carved.
Do you suppose this was the inspiration for George R.R. Martin's "heart trees" in his "Game of Thrones" saga?
I love folklore about the Green Man. In most mythology, he is the consort of the Great Goddess who is Nature herself.
There used to be a Green Man sculpture right around the corner from you at Laumeier Park.
I suggest we bring back human sacrifice to the green man. I think Trump would make a nice tribute followed by all 3 of his supreme justices. After all, there is no one in recent memory who has done more to gut environmental protections.
I thought Robin Hood (as opposed to King Arthur or Beowulf) was the one medieval legend that DIDN'T involve the supernatural.
Boy, I like Lady M's idea!! Let's vote!
Bill - I know nothing of Game of Thrones. If I ever need to know anything I'll be coming to you for information.
Deb - How does someone apply for the job of consort?
Kathy - Now I'm going to have to go look for that.
Lady - Let's get that process started!
Kirk - https://leftlion.co.uk/features/2019/02/the-green-man-robin-hood/
Peg - I vote YES!
Amazing how ancient customs change their story but linger in the primal layer of the citizenry. I see faces in trees all the time. Of course I wouldn't state that publicly just mentioning it to you friends 😉 of course, Hawaii is still animated by a lot of ancient personages energies and beings, so it is not unusual for people to see the unusual. Glenn Grant wrote some wonderful collections of local ghost and spirit stories that are very rich because they partake of Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese culture. We got a veritable you and of ghosts here in the islands!
A veritable UN
Cloudia - Would the isolation of the islands intensify ghost and spirit stories?
Post a Comment