The Green Man & Winter Solstice

The Green Man Symbol

The Green Man is a pre-Christian symbol found carved into the wood and stone of pagan temples and graves and medieval churches across an area stretching from Ireland in the west to Russia in the east.

Although commonly perceived as an ancient Celtic symbol, in fact its origins lie in antiquity and the original meaning of the Green Man are shrouded in mystery.

It is primarily interpreted as a symbol of fertility and rebirth, representing the cycle of growth of each generation – closely associated with the ancient commemoration of the Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice (usually 21 or 22 December in the Northern Hemisphere) has been celebrated in world cultures for thousands of years. This start of the solar year is a celebration of light and the rebirth of the Sun.

In old Europe, it was known as Yule, from the Norse, Jul, meaning wheel.

Today, many people in Western-based cultures refer to this holiday as Christmas. Yet a look into the origins of Christmas reveals its Pagan roots!

Fertility & Births

Both the Green Man and Winter Solstice represent the beginning of the cycle of re-birth.

But did you know there's one day each year when the most babies are born?

According to data analysed from the UK governments live births database, that day is actually 26 September – some 9-months on from Christmas – the typical length of the gestation period for homo sapiens the only extant human species.

Something to muse on over the holiday period – Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2025 New Year to all my LinkedIn contacts.