The Greenman

The Greenman is an enigmatic figure that equates with the 'Holly King' and 'Oak King' in the mythologies of Britain and Western Europe. He is also wrongly equated with Cernunnos, The Horned God, however, this is incorrect as the Greenman is a being of forest FLORA and Cernunnos is a being of forest FAUNA (Lord of the Animals). He is better defined as 'The Watcher' and even a 'trickster' of travellers who do not belong in the forest. It is said that it is he who whispers in the voice of the breeze as it rustles the leaves telling ancient stories of the Wood. The Holly and Oak Kings are personifications of the Greenman as the keeper of time and seasonal change always transitioning between the Summer and Winter halves of the year, with one 'vanquishing' the other and taking the throne at the Summer and Winter Solstices.