A Green Man for the Solstice. The ancient symbol of fertility and nature probably dating back to the very first farmers. Often seen in surprising places - church fonts for instance.
I bought my new one from a Christmas Fayre last month. I had one at the smallholding and at Clay Cottage and left them both to guard the land for the new owners.
He is still in the shed at the moment, waiting for someone to hold the ladder while I use hammer and nail and put him up on the Flowering Cherry tree.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
I love Green Men. I am absolutely fascinated by the stories and history of them. He's a lovely looking one!
ReplyDeleteI must stop moving and leaving them behind!
DeleteHe reminds me of the cricket on my hearth, a handsome bronze specimen, which is supposed to bring good luck to the house in which it resides. I've had it in my last three houses and so far my luck has held!
ReplyDeleteYour good luck cricket sound lovely
DeleteHe's lovely. We had a green man at the last house and left him in the garden for the young couple who bought the house from us. We have yet to replace him.
ReplyDeleteHappy Winter Solstice Sue.
I was pleased to find this one, made from cement by a someone at the craft fair - they had lots
DeleteHe is lovely, such an expression on that face.
ReplyDeleteI have had a wooden tekoteko that I brought back from New Zealand on my 50th birthday and he has guarded us well since then.
I shall look up tekoteko
DeleteThe foliate man was often put in churches by the masons during building to cover all eventualities, both pagan and religious it is believed. There's plenty of them in the churches and Norwich Cathedral. They were only called Green Men since the 1930s when some researcher named them that as far as I can remember from a history of art class a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteand sometimes known as a Woodwose
DeleteYour Green Man is really lovely; I've never seen one. He will be a nice addition to your garden.
ReplyDeleteOften seen carved on old buildings and a bit of ancient history
DeleteWell, I had never heard of the Green Man before. Yours is lovely and I hope he takes good care of you!
ReplyDeleteI hope he helps my veg grow!
DeleteThere's something very appealing about Green Men! We sent one recently as a birthday gift to eldest son
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
I'm very pleased to have one again and made by someone local too
DeleteMaybe he can guard from the base of the tree for now? How will you nail up a cement piece anyway? It would be a perfect day to bring him out on the eve of the Solstice.
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice one, and how nice of you to leave the other ones behind to guard the land.
ReplyDelete