The Green Man and Spring

April -- Finally, after what has seemed to be an incredibly long, cold winter,  Spring has arrived in the Mid-Atlantic, USA.  Snowdrops and crocus are blossoming. Daffodils will soon burst open in bright, yellow gladness if our warm weather, spring rains and soft air continue this week.

With thoughts on Springtime, I've been surfing the Internet for information on the Green Man and Spring.  Last year's post on "Not just any George" touched briefly on St. George's Day, traditionally celebrated on April 23rd around the world.  I have found two excellent articles on the tradition that link the Green Man to this Spring celebration.  

Gary Varner, author of the excellent book: The Mythic Forest, The Green Man and the Spirit of Nature , discusses St. George as a possible Green Man figure in his article and excerpt from his book: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=1215&id=16882  Varner touches upon many traditions where St. George is linked with birth, death and rebirth. He cites other scholars on the Green Man such as:  Sir James Frazer, Mall Hiiemae, John Mathews and George and Fran Doel. 

An article by Hiiemae can be found at: http://www.folklore.ee/folklore/nr1/georg.htm.  This excellent article on the history of St. George's day, cites the ancient roots behind the holiday celebrating the saint.  He states that the Greek origin of Georgius is "ploughman"  or more simply, a farmer.  St. George's day coincides with many areas and the emergence of plants.  Hiiemae reminds us of grass being 'called forth' in the Alps.  Both he and Varner state the old European tradition that the winter ground is poisonous and especially children, should not sit on the ground, nor walk barefoot. prior to St. George's Day.  I remember my own mother (of German descent), warning me not to sit on the ground until after May because the winter has not left it yet, and you would become sick.  I found myself saying it to my own children, and am now only learning of reason and tradition behind the saying! 

Hiiemae's article gives extensive information on St. George's day.  It is easy to see the linkage between St. George and the Green Man.  As new life and plants burst forth, I will leave you, dear reader, with this quote from Hiiemae's article: "The St. George's Day traditions connected with the awakening of nature and the arrival of spring make one think of the actual emergence of green planta. The idea of a dying and newly rising deity, in association with the autumnal fading and springtime bursting of vegetation, seems to fit ever so logically into the world view of peoples living in a natural state. There are, for example, such Russian proverbs as George will bring spring and There is no spring without George (Dal 1957, 879)." 

To Spring! To George! To St. George! To the Green Man!