When Ivy Leaves Whisper: The Green Man’s Secret Life in Springtime Parades
Tucked behind church carvings and leafy costumes, the Green Man has long been mistaken for a modern invention of May Day revelry. Yet, his roots run deep—woven through centuries of English seasonal celebrations.
The Green Man, often depicted with foliage sprouting from his face, has been a fixture in spring festivals since at least the 16th century, appearing alongside characters like Robin Hood and Jack-in-the-Green.
Far from being a recent addition, he played a starring role in St. George’s Day pageants as early as 1610, where he battled dragons in public spectacles that marked the arrival of spring.
His leafy image also marched in London’s Lord Mayor’s Shows and echoed through May Day festivities, linking him to both the wildness of nature and the order of civic ritual.
Across Europe, similar figures emerged in Carnival and Christmas traditions, reinforcing the Green Man’s role as a symbol of renewal and the ever-turning wheel of the year.
From dragon fights to Maypole dances, the Green Man’s story is one of perennial return—green shoots in the calendar’s turning soil.
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