The Green Man and Green Woman of the forest are legendary symbols of new growth and rebirth that represents the lushness of flourishing vegetation and the coming of spring and summer and the co-dependence between nature and man. They appears as many characters in different mythologies.
The Green Man and The Green Woman motif has many variations, is most commonly depicted in a sculpture or other representation of a face which is made of, or completely surrounded by, leaves, plants and vegetation. Branches or vines may sprout from the mouth, nostrils, or other parts of the face, and these shoots may bear flowers or fruit all which are vital to life on earth. It makes sense that nearly every culture would have a deity devoted to it.
The Green Man
The Green Man and Green Woman combine music, art and folklore with the improvement of the environment. Found in many cultures from many ages around the world, the Green Man is often related to natural vegetation deities. Often used as decorative architectural ornaments, Green Men are frequently found in carvings on both secular and ecclesiastical buildings. "The Green Man" is also a popular name for English public houses, and various interpretations of the name appear on inn signs, which sometimes show a full figure rather than just the face.
Celtic and Druid culture also revolves around trees and vegetation, so a symbol representing a head of foliage would have been particularly significant to the ancient Celts even if its origins lie elsewhere. In modern times The Green Man is associated with environmental issues and has been used as a logo for environmentally-conscious, sustainable businesses such as eco-homes, landscaping and renewable energy.
This association stems from the pre-Christian notion that Man was born from nature, as evidenced by various mythological accounts of the way in which the world began, and the idea that Man is directly tied to the fate of nature. It is the natural changing of seasons that presents the passage of time that ages Man, thus by depicting the Green Man in such a way that overwhelmingly illustrates Man's relationship with nature highlights the idea to worshippers that one cannot survive without the other.
This union with nature and mutual reliance upon one another is evidenced historically and archaeologically through Man's cultivation and development of the natural world, and the fruits nature thereby provided. Man was predominately reliant on nature until recent centuries, so the Green Man as an expression of this close of a relationship also seems likely and a fairly powerful message.
Whittemore Preserve includes Whittemore House and 11 miles of trails for hiking, dog walking, and horseback riding. Trails traverse mainly wooded areas with wetlands, ravines, and hilly terrain. The sanctuary also serves as the perfect stage for birders and nature lovers to view local avian species and other wildlife.
The Northern New Jersey Cachers, NNJC is about promoting a quality caching experience in Northern New Jersey. For information on The Northern New Jersey Cachers group you can visit: www.nnjc.org.
nnjc.org & Metrogathering.org