A Green Man is a sculpture, drawing or other representation of a face surrounded by (or made from) leaves. Branches or vines may sprout from the nose, mouth, nostrils or other parts of the face, and these shoots may bear flowers or fruit. Commonly used as a decorative architectural ornament, Green Men are frequently found on carvings in churches and other buildings. Found in many cultures around the world, the Green Man is often related to natural vegetative deities springing up in different cultures throughout the ages.

A legendary creature who roams the

woodlands of the British Isles and

Europe. He usually is depicted as a horned man peering out of a

mask of foliage, usually the sacred

oak. He is known by other names such as "Green Jack, "Jack-in-the-Green" and

"Green George." He represents spirits of

trees, plants and foliage. He was

frequently depicted in medieval art, including church

decorations.

All around Western Civilization the Green Man can be found,

from the Islamic culture, to the Celtic, English, Indian, Russian,

German. The Green Man has come largely to represent the

"Renaissance" or rebirth, in the sense that the vegetative god is reborn anew each spring. The Green Man's stories have so

many faces and stories that no single origin can be placed on

the symbol thus far.