Medieval literature was largely a curious mixture of Christian belief and old pagan tales and legends. One of the most famous, Gawain and the Green Knight, incorporates the knights of King Arthur, severed heads, the Green Man and the etiquette of courtly love and flirtation, all in one story.
Another vital aspect of peoples lives was the land which, through farming, provided physical nourishment and growth; in short, survival. The image of the Green Man was associated by tradition with regeneration, rebirth and the gifts of nature. In these times the Church would have been involved with such practical, day-to-day issues as in spiritual matters for communities tended to be much smaller and people were more reliant upon one another.
Today the Green Man is still with us, whether illustrated on tins of sweetcorn as the 'Jolly Green Giant' or as a deeply spiritual instinct within. A respect for nature has always been an important part of most religions, pagan or otherwise. Communities of different people from many countries with diverse beliefs have aspired and learned to be self-sufficient by living directly from the land.
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Co-ordinates
N3° 8 49.7
E 101° 42 28.2
