The Merry Month of May and Jack in the Green

Traditionally May has been a celebratory time for "Jack in the Green."  A "Jack o' the Green'  epitomizes the Green Man in a foliated costume or a pyramid-like, foliage covered framework.  Hastings, England has a festival devoted to Jack: http://www.hastingsjack.co.uk/prog.html

Some revelries can be viewed via youtube.com.  Below is a video from the 2013 festival:

 

Another wonderful take on Jack is the Jethro Tull tune "Jack in the Green"

Jack in the Green

Another guise of the Green Man is "Jack-in-the-Green."  The Jack-in-the-Greens date back to the 16th and 17th centuries in Britain where elaborate garlanded men would lead May celebrations.  In recent times, Jack-in-the-Greens lead Morris Dancers in celebration and at Maypoles.  The Jack is a man who is covered in greenery over a framework.   (photo from: http://www.madjacksmorris.co.uk/jackinthegreen.html) Jack-in-the-Greens are also seen in in the celebration of Straw bears   (photo from: http://citynoise.org/article/1930)  and the British 'Burryman' (a man covered in sticky burrs)(photo from:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4784271.stm ) . Jack-in-the-Greens traditionally celebrate Spring and the Straw Bears, winter.  One of my favorite interpretations of Jack-in-the-Green is from Jethro Tull's song of the same name: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUZSwHXKu0Q Find a copy of the lyrics at: http://www.absolutelyrics.com/lyrics/view/jethro_tull/jack-in-the-green/