If you have attended Cibolo events over the past 35 years, you may have found yourself lucky enough to meet our foliage-covered mascot named Green Man.
Those of you who did not have that pleasure may be familiar with him from Roman architecture, Medieval architecture, garden décor, or other art forms. This floating visage of a man framed with leaves can range from smiling to screaming and has existed in various cultures and traditions for thousands of years.
Despite his longstanding presence, the origin of Green Man is disputed among scholars. This is largely due to the lack of written record of the motif over the time that his image was being widely spread.
In the 1930s, an explanation of Green Man, along with sketches of carved examples found in buildings across England, was published by Lady Raglan in her article, “The Green Man in Church Architecture” in the 1939 edition of Folklore.
She asserts that Green Man was a pre-Christian, spiritual symbol, and though Christian reform had consumed Europe, this piece of paganism was held onto and “subsisted side by side with the official religion. This explains the presence of our Green Man in a church window with the Virgin beside him and below him the sun.”
Many historians argue over the validity of the name Green Man, as not enough evidence exists to prove that all versions of the foliate head are the same person or deity.
He has also been claimed to be a Celtic symbol for rebirth and fertility, a variant of Osiris the Egyptian god of vegetation and resurrection, derived from figures found in archeological sites in India and Lebanon, and many more.
What can be agreed upon is the fact this mysterious man has ancient roots and was so popular, he became a mainstay in human culture.
Green Man resurged in popularity with the environmental movement in the late 20th century. His image was commonly seen as a link between humans and nature, and he served as a reminder of our interconnectedness with the natural world and the importance of preserving it.
The renewal of spiritualism around this time also made sure that Green Man was seen a symbol of reverence. With this influx of prestige carrying him through the decades, he would become the face of environmental groups, the muse for books and music, the art theme for the 2007 Burning Man, and the inspiration for the Green Man Festival in Wales, an annual music, science, and art festival.
As a symbol, he has continued to grow and change alongside society.
Green Man’s longstanding presence in human culture and his evolving meanings make him a symbol that continues to be significant today, especially to us here at The Cibolo. He serves as a bridge between the past and the present, connecting us to our cultural heritage and reminding us of the importance of our relationship with nature.
Stay tuned for an upcoming article by Brent Evans, with his take on the man, the myth, and the legend, Green Man.
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