l'Homme Vert - Events

A short history of 'The Greenman'

The Greenman is known by just about everyone. His leafy face has appeared in many cultures. He is the symbol of nature's rebirth in the spring, he is the guardian of the forests, he is the protector of the wild places,with the forces of nature merging with humanity.
Carvings of the Green Man may take many forms, naturalistic or decorative. The simplest depict a man's face peering out of dense foliage. Some may have leaves for hair, perhaps with a leafy beard. The face is almost always male; green women are rare. Green cats, lions and demons are also found. The Greenman appears on countless gothic churches and castles all over the world. Although traditionally associated with the United Kingdom, he has been noted in Germany, France, Italy, Holland and is said to be found in Spain, Hungary and Poland.
The figure is also often referred to as Jack in the green and there are many May Day festivals to celebrate the Man Himself the largest of which takes place in Hastings, UK.
This year L'homme vert will be hosting its own Greenman festival on May 1st.

Here are some pictures of well known Greenmen, and a few whose location may surprise you.

Next time you are out and about take a look around and see how many you can find, you will be amazed at how often they appear.
We would love you to send us your pictures so we can feature them on the site, dont forget to tell us where you found him.

For details of where to Mail your picture see our CONTACTS page