Green Man Symbolism

Excellent overview on the Green Man:

Green Man artist

Surfing the internet, I stumbled across this artist and their rendering of the Green Man:

http://www.thefairygathering.com/mickie-mueller-greenman.shtml
by artist Holly Edwards

I especially like her depiction of the Green Man's skin as living wood.  This is the closed rendition I have found to the description in my book:  The Greening: http://www.amazon.com/The-Greening-Green-Man-ebook/dp/B0084TH53Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372031313&sr=8-1&keywords=the+greening+sharon+brubaker  and
The Leafing: http://www.amazon.com/The-Leafing-Green-Man-ebook/dp/B00C8UIXZO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372031365&sr=8-1&keywords=the+leafing+sharon+brubaker

Native American Green Man

Life takes us down funny roads.  In a cursory search of interesting and unusual Green Man facts, I found a reference to Ngen-Mawida, the Native American keeper of the forests.  As of this writing I have not been able to locate a picture of this god, but there is very interesting information below from the Native American Encyclopedia and the SpeedLook Encyclopedia.

From SpeedyLook:  "The mission of these Ngen is similar to the one of a ranger; that is to say, they protect the life of its flora and fauna promoting its well-being and continuity, and raising animal and wild birds. For it, the Ngen-mawida must prevent in the forest the excessive operation, its contamination and destruction by means of the cutting or the fire. When they destroy or they burn a native forest, the wild life without continuity options finishes steeply, also the ngen-mawida one goes away. "  http://www.myetymology.com/encyclopedia/Ngen-mawida.html

From the Native American Encyclopedia:

"The Ngen are those that manage, govern and arrange the different features of nature; but also those that nature takes care of and protects. The Ngen were created by the Pu-am (the representation of the universal soul), who wanted the Ngen to assure the order and the laws of admapu (rules of the Mapuche tradition); and that they prevented that a commotion such as the one caused by the battle of the pillan before the beginning of the time. The Ngen receive orders of the Pu-am and of Antü (the most powerful pillan spirit).
If a Mapuche needs to obtain something from nature, they must respect and give an offering to the specific Ngen spirit."
http://nativeamericanencyclopedia.com/ngen/

The Ngen appear to be a race of Nature Spirits.  What great characters for future novels!

One interesting depiction of this spirit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/a_b_c/2183109646/

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"

In the spirit of Good and the Forces of Green

Reminiscent of The Leaf Man and the Brave Good Bugs by William Joyce 
a new movie has been created where brave, green warriors watch over and protect us.  The warriors who battle for the forces of Good are small, Green Men.   This family movie is from Blue Sky productions and entitled "Epic."  Here is the link to the site: http://www.epicthemovie.com/  and below is the trailer.  Enjoy!

Real LIVE Green Men

In the April 8th edition of Time Magazine this photo was posted of men with green faces:


The colors on their faces and bodies make them look like live Green Men.  In truth they are celebrating the Hindi Lathmar Holi celebration that takes place on March 22nd.  Below is the history of the festival:
The colorful celebration has its roots in Hindu mythology. It's said that darker-skinned Krishna was jealous of fair-skinned Radha and pestered his foster mother Yashoda about it so much that she told him he could change Radha's skin by dousing her in colors.
Thus, each spring Holi revelers hurl neon powder (known as gulal) and colored water into the air, tie-dying participants into spirographs of color. The vibrant hues are said to represent energy, life, joy and the coming of spring.
Celebrants light huge bonfires to ward off evil spirits and commemorate the victory of good over evil on the eve of Holi. On the day of the main event, men typically wear white kurtas, while ladies don white saris or shalwar kameez. Of course, these clothes don't stay white for long. Children have free range to smear colors on friends and neighbors while adults toss dyed water and gulal in a riot of color.  (from: http://www.ibtimes.com/holi-2013-indias-festival-colors-photos-1153855 )
Another celebration of Spring and live and good over evil. Perhaps next year I can convince friends to toss about some neon powders on March 22nd in a small copycat celebration in the States.
\

"The Leafing" is available

The adventure continues! 

The second book in the Green Man series, entitled: The Leafing has been uploaded to www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com

After solving a grisly local murder the previous year, Sylvia thought her life had settled into a happy and predictable routine. Instead, changes occurred that caused her to doubt everything: her job, her relationships, and her entire existence. Finding her neighbor’s body on her beach along with subsequent attacks on other women in her community made her wonder – would she be next? Could the Green Man help her find her answers?



http://www.amazon.com/The-Leafing-Green-Man-ebook/dp/B00C8UIXZO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365383260&sr=8-1&keywords=the+leafing+sharon+brubaker

Please read, please enjoy, please write a review.  Thank you!