Green Man
A legendary pagan deity who roams the woodlands of the British Isles and Europe. Usually depicted as a horned man peering out of a mask of oak foliage. His other names such as “Green Jack, “Jack-in-the-Green” and “Green George.”
He represents spirits of trees, plants and foliage. It is believed he has rain making powers Frequently depicted in medieval art, including church decorations, he is represented in festivals by a young man dressed head to foot in greenery, leading the procession.
In various festivals, Green George, or an effigy of him, is dunked in a pond or lake to ensure that there will be enough rain to keep the land green . Green Man shares an affinity with the forest-dwelling fairies as green is the fairy color.
In the British Isles the fairies are also called “Greenies” and “Greencoaties.” In the myth of “The Fairy Children,” there appears two fairy children, a brother and a sister, who have green skin and claim to be of a race with green skin
Tewkesbury Lord of Life Green Man, originally uploaded by tina_manthorpe.
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