High Wycombe Jack-in-the-Green 2012
Despite the horrible weather and deep mud The High Wycombe Jack-in-the-Green went out and about on 1st May 2012. Our Thanks to Thorskegga Thorn for a great Picture despite the downpour
Whitstable Jack-in-the-Green 2012
The Whitstable Jack-in-the-Green went out on Monday 7th May 2012. The Jack was supported as always by Oyster Morris. Our congratulations to Dixie Lee who revived the procession in 1976 and was presented with a wonderful wooden plaque to commemorate her retirement. I had hoped to make it to Whitstable myself this year but sadly the bank holiday traffic put a stop to that!…next year! I’m extremely grateful to Quentin Fletcher for giving us permission to reproduce his wonderful pictures of the Whitstable Jack for another year.
Tunbridge Wells Jack-in-the-Green 2012
I am really pleased to be able to confirm that the Tunbridge Wells Jack-in-the-Green went out in Tunbridge Wells town centre with a crown of May blossom at around 10:30am on Saturday 5th May 2012. Jack led a procession around the commons of Rusthall and Tunbridge Wells and then was slain to release the spirit of summer. He was accompanied by a number of drums and was flanked by a red flag and a flag of Kent. It was great to confirm this Jack as I had been led to believe that it had only appeared for one year but I can now report that this was the fourth consecutive year for the Tunbridge Wells Jack-in-the-Green (our website details will updated shortly)
Brentham Jack-in-the-Green 2011
Brentham Jack-in-the-Green 14th May 2011 © Murray Fortescue
This years Brentham Jack-in-the-Green was once again part of the Brentham May Day festivities and took part in the procession around the garden suburb as it has since 1930
Highworth Jack-in-the-Green 2011
Highworth Jack-in-the-Green April 30th 2011 Copyright © Kay Brown
The Highworth Jack-in-the-Green visited Highworth in Wiltshire on the 30th April 2011 and joined the festivities of the medieval market
Merry May Day!!
At the exact time that this post appears, as the sun rises just after 5:30 on May 1st 2011 a number of Jack-in -the-Greens will be awoken across the UK. They will parade around towns, villages and cities bringing the summer and “Jacks Magic” with them either on May 1st or in the coming days. I shall be watching (and photographing) the Jacks at Oxford, Deptford/Greenwich, Hastings and Bristol this year. See you there!
A Merry May Day and a Happy Beltaine to one and all!
A Riddle
I am born on May Morning by sticks, bells, and ribbons
I am the sap in the dark root
I am the dancer with his six fools
I am the tump behind the old church
I am the lost soul under the misericord
I am the oak against the stars
I am the face that peers through the leaves
I am the fear in a childs mind
I am the demon on the roof-boss
I am killed in October and laid on church altars
I am the guiser on the bright bonfire
I am the old grain sown with the seed
I am the flame in the pumpkins grin
I am the spirit in the kern-baby’s bosom
CAMPAIGN FOR THE PRESERVATION OF MAY DAY
On Monday April 18th Morris dancers, Jacks in the Green, hobby horses, drummers and May Queens from around England will visit Parliament to persuade The Government that the May Day Bank Holiday should be not be moved to another date.
They aim to gather on the green at Old Palace Yard opposite Parliament at noon to dance and make their voice (and drums) heard. From here they will go to the Department of Culture Media and Sport in Cockspur Street to deliver a petition to the Minister for Tourism John Penrose at 1400. Chairman of the world famous Hastings Jack in the Green celebrations, Keith Leech said; ‘I have no idea why they have resurrected this old chestnut. They tried to do this before under John Major, it was shown to be a bad idea then and will I am sure will be shown to be a bad idea again.’
The campaign started in Hastings where the May Day holiday is celebrated in style. The traditional Jack in the Green is paraded around the streets with about 600 dancers, giants and other characters. The 19th century custom was revived when the Bank Holiday was introduced. Over the past thirty years it has grown to be one of the premier ‘must see’ events in England (top ten attractions in the Easyjet inflight magazine), and attracts visitors from around the world. The Bank Holiday also sees thousands of bikers descend on Hastings for the annual bikers rally. Over the weekend all hotels and restaurants in the town are full and the pubs usually run out of beer. Local businesses see it as a real boost after a long hard winter, and many say they would not survive without it. Together the two events bring about five million pounds into the local economy. Hastings is one of the most deprived towns in England; it is therefore no surprise that Hastings is fighting to keep the Bank Holiday, which for the town marks the start of the tourist season. The whole town has fallen in behind the campaign to keep the holiday and it has cross party support. The Labour Council and the Conservative MP Amber Rudd are working together to keep the holiday. Amber Rudd has hosted the petition to keep the May Day Bank holiday on her web site and will lead the petitioners when the petition is presented to The Minister.
Hastings is not the only town that will be affected by any change in the bank holiday. Many towns have used the holiday to put on similar events including Rochester, Bristol, Ilfracombe and Whitstable with Jack in the Green celebrations, each of these brings many millions into the economy of these towns. Upton upon Severn now has a folk festival, Knutsford has a weekend long May Day celebration and there are numerous other village May Queens and Maypoles across England.
Representatives from Morris dance teams, Maypole dancers, May Queens and other May Day celebrations across England will be present at the rally. The Rochester and Deptford Jacks in the Green are expected to make an appearance.
A Facebook group ‘We do not want to lose the May Day Bank holiday’ has over 15000 members.
Campaigners point out that May Day is in fact one of the oldest public holidays in England, going back to the Romans, if not before. It has attached to it many customs and traditions that are part of English intangible cultural heritage.
May Day was last abolished as a holiday by Oliver Cromwell’s Long Parliament, when he famously also abolished Christmas. It took 350 years for the holiday to be restored by Michael Foot. It is a celebration of the return of summer after the long months of winter. Workers have adopted it as a holiday because this metaphor could equally apply to the struggle of the working class through a ‘winter’ of exploitation; but the holiday is much older.
The Campaigners consider the idea that moving the holiday to either October or St Georges Day to extend the holiday season to help ailing seaside towns such as Hastings to be spurious. St Georges day is only a week earlier, this would bring the holiday closer to Easter with all the subsequent problems this will cause. In October it is usually wet and cold meaning people will simply opt to travel abroad.
The United Kingdom has the lowest number of Bank Holidays in Europe there is therefore a strong argument to have additional Bank Holidays to extend the tourist season rather than taking away a Bank Holiday that is already very successful in bringing much needed tourism to our struggling seaside towns.
There is a UNESCO Convention designed to protect World Intangible Cultural Heritage events. Most nations of Europe are signatories; therefore their traditional customs are protected. It should be noted that the UK Government has not signed this convention. The very fact that they can even consider moving a Bank Holiday when many traditional customs happen coupled with the failure to sign the UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage shows that they have scant regard for the customs and traditions of England that deserve preservation for the future.
Keith Leech
(Chairman Hastings Jack in the Green)
The Company of the Green Man would be extremely grateful if anyone can send us pictures or videos of any of the Jacks that attend this historical event, and if possible pictures of any of the Jacks together. A prize (chocolate or beer based!) will be offered to the best pictures or videos sent to us at greenman@virgin.net
ANNUAL EVENTS 2011
As May draws closer a quick reminder that the list of events that feature the Jack-in-the-Green and the Green Man during May is growing every year. The list below is our current list for May but we are always extremely grateful to hear of any others that we may have missed including those outside of the UK. Details will always be as up to date as possible on the annual events pages of the website at www.thecompanyofthegreenman.co.uk
This blog has a worldwide readership so don’t hesitate to drop us a line. I’ve included links to as many of the below as possible as some have not fixed their dates as yet. If you would like to add details of an event here please e-mail us at greenman@virgin.net
Please go out and support your nearest Jack and join in the wonderful and magical event, then send us in your pictures and experiences of the event.
Bristol Jack in the Green Saturday 7th May
The Bristol Jack in the Green appears on the first Saturday in May starting from the historic Harbourside (outside the Arnolfini) and leads a magical procession through the streets of Bristol eventually ending the day on Horfield Common where he dies to release the spirit of summer.
Bristol Jack in the Green
Rochester Sweeps Festival and Jack-in-the-Green 30th April – 2nd May
The Rochester Sweeps festival still has a Jack in the Green Ceremony where the Jack is awoken on Blue Bell Hill on May Morning and is paraded through the streets during the three day festival attended by hundreds of Morris Teams
Rochester Sweeps Festival
Hasting Jack-in-the-Green Festival Monday 29th April – 2nd May
The Hastings Jack-in-the-Green festival was revived by Keith Leech in 1983 and is now one of the biggest annual gatherings of Morris Dancers in the country. The Jack is “released” every year and is central to the festival.
Hastings Jack-in-the-Green Festival
Deptford Jack-in-the-Green Sunday 1st May
The Fowlers Troop Jack in the Green goes out on the streets of South East London or the City of London every May Day
Deptford Jack in the Green
Brentham May Day and Jack-in-the-Green Saturday 14th May
Brentham has a big celebration every May which includes a Jack in the Green described as a walking talking bush who sometimes parades barefoot.
Brentham Jack in the Green
Knutsford May Day and Jack-in-the-Green
The Knutsford Jack in the Green is probably the oldest continual annual Jack in the Green. Apart from the war years it has paraded every year since 1890. May Day in Knutsford is celebrated over the May Bank holiday weekend..
Knutsford Jack in the Green
City of London Jack-in-the-Green
The City of London Jack-in-the-Green appears in the City on May Day (but only when May Day falls on a City working day, when it falls on a weekend he may sometimes be spotted elsewhere)
City of London Jack in the Green
Oxford Jack-in-the-Green Sunday 1st May
The Oxford Jack-in-the-Green appears in Oxford on May Morning. OUMM (Oxford University Morris Men) introduced Jack-in-the-Green to their May Morning festivities in 1951. At that time they were unaware that a Jack-in-the-Green was a common sight in and around Oxford in the 19th century. The Oxford Jack is usually first seen near Magdalen Tower just before 6am and leads an informal procession up ‘The High’ to Radcliffe Square, where the first dance of the day: “Bonny Green” from Bucknell, starts at about 6.25am.
Oxford Jack in the Green
Whitstable Jack-in-the-Green Monday 2nd May
Jack-in-the-Green was revived for the Whitstable Folk Festival in 1976 and is now central to the Whitstable May Day celebrations. The Jack is supported by Oyster Morris who also have their own Green Man who combines the roles of Jester and announcer dressed in white and green.
Whitstable Jack in the Green
Ilfracombe Jack-in-the-Green 2nd – 3rd May 2011
Ilfracombes Jack-in-the-Green Parades on the first May bank holiday. A procession starts at approximately 11am winds its way through the High Street, along the sea front towards the harbour area. The Ilfracombe Jack finishes with the release of the spirit of summer and the distribution of leaves on Ilfracombe Pier.
Ilfracombe Jack in the Green
Highworth Jack-in-the-Green
Highworth (Wiltshire) has a Jack in the Green that parades through the town in early May each year as part of their Medieval Market.
Beltane Bash Monday
Originally scheduled for Monday 30th May, but sadly due to the passing of one of the organisers it may not go ahead this year. Please check the website for the latest information.
The parade normally starts from the Conway Hall Red Lion Square London WC1 at 10:30 Led by traditional giants, the Jack-in-the-Green, Thor & Holda, Herne and Andred, Naughty Fairies and The Bogies.
Beltane Bash
Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival
Edinburgh’s Beltane festival traditionally takes place on the 30th of April every year on Calton Hill. The Green Man begins in a dormant and inactive state in the form of the old Horned God, until he ‘dies’ when he touches the May Queen. Her Handmaidens tear his garments from him and he is ‘reborn’ as the young Green Man with a wild exhilarating dance that celebrates his youth and the new summer.
Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival
Clun Green Man Festival
The Clun Green Man Festival is a springtime festival, held over three days usually on the first May Bank Holiday of the year. The Festival takes place in the picturesque town of Clun in South Shropshire and features a modern interpretation of the Green Man
Clun Green Man Festival
Jack in the Green
Had to re-produce this at some point as I’m aware that there are some generations out there who sadly may not have heard of Jethro Tull (I can proudly say I once saw them play live, I was of course very young!)
These are the lyrics to their wonderful Jack in the Green, from the album Songs from the Wood. If you would like to hear how it sounds there’s a link to it on our You Tube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/cotgm
Jack in the Green
Have you seen Jack-In-The-Green?
With his long tail hanging down.
He quietly sits under every tree
in the folds of his velvet gown.
He drinks from the empty acorn cup
the dew that dawn sweetly bestows.
And taps his cane upon the ground
signals the snowdrops it’s time to grow.
It’s no fun being Jack-In-The-Green
no place to dance, no time for song.
He wears the colours of the summer soldier
carries the green flag all the winter long.
Jack, do you never sleep
does the green still run deep in your heart?
Or will these changing times,
motorways, powerlines,
keep us apart?
Well, I don’t think so
I saw some grass growing through the pavements today.
The rowan, the oak and the holly tree
are the charges left for you to groom.
Each blade of grass whispers Jack-In-The-Green.
Oh Jack, please help me through my winter’s night.
And we are the berries on the holly tree.
Oh, the mistlethrush is coming.
Jack, put out the light.
Green Men of Normandy by Bruce Eaton
Church of Saint-Germain in Barneville-Carteret - Copyright Eleanor Eaton
Saint-Germain, Barneville-Carteret, Normandy
On a recent family holiday in Normandy we took some time out from sandcastle building duties and sampling the excellent local cider to indulge in a spot of Green Man hunting. Without doubt the highlight was the small Romanesque church of Saint-Germain in Barneville-Carteret. We knew we were in for a treat when we saw the rows of grotesque corbels around the outside of the church. The pillar capitals that support the dog-toothed Norman arches of the nave were fascinating. They featured, amongst other things, multiple examples of Green Men of the ‘face generating foliage’ type, a figure holding two serpents which seem to emerge out of his anus, a wrestler throwing his opponent to the floor whilst being attacked by a serpent, a possible Christ figure with knotwork dogs, abstract knotwork patterns and a probable Sheela-na-Gig (although the ‘lady’s area’ has been attacked with a chisel at some point in the carving’s history). The parish priest, when interrogated by my father-in-law, claimed that the oldest parts of the church date to the tenth century. Clive Hicks, in his excellent field guide, dates the capitals to the twelfth century.[1] I would tentatively suggest an eleventh century date, but am happy to stand corrected. Photographs of the capitals have been added to the COTGM Flikr site so that you can make up your own minds.
I had been aware that the master masons who supervised the building of England’s twelfth century churches had largely been recruited in France (most famously the Herefordshire School),[2] but until visiting Normandy I had not fully appreciated that, as well as bringing their expertise, these master craftsmen also brought with them a complex artistic vocabulary, of which Green Man designs form but one element. This style did not develop in isolation and many of the carvings at Saint-Germain seem to bear more than a hint of Scandinavian influence. This is unsurprising given that the deCarteret family claim direct descent from one of the henchmen of Rollo ‘the Dane’, the founder of Normandy.
[1] Hicks, C. 2000 The Green Man – A Field Guide COMPASSbooks p75
[2] Bailey, J. 2000 The Parish Church of St Mary & St David at Kilpeck Berrington Press p23
More of Bruce and Eleanor’s pictures of Normandy Green Men can be viewed on our Flickr Site http://www.flickr.com/photos/thecompanyofthegreenman
Jacks-in-the-Green 2010
This year at least fourteen Jacks-in-the-Green were awoken and paraded through the streets (or woodlands) of England. These included the following:
- Oxford Jack-in-the-Green
- Whitstable Jack-in-the-Green
- Rochester Jack-in-the-Green
- Hastings Traditional Jack-in-the-Green
- Deptford Jack-in-the-Green
- City of London Jack-in-the-Green
- Bristol Jack in the Green
- Ilfracombe Jack-in-the-Green
- Knutsford Jack-in-the-Green
- Brentham Jack-in-the-Green
- London Jack-in-the-Green (Beltane Bash)
- Highworth Jack-in-the-Green
- High Wycombe Jack-in-the-Green
- And a Jack in private woodlands in Sussex
If anyone knows of any we have missed please let us know at greenman@virgin.net
More pictures of the Hastings Jack-in-the-Green
Lots more pictures of this years fantastic Hastings Jack-in-the-Green on our Flickr pages at http://www.flickr.com/photos/thecompanyofthegreenman
The Hastings Jack-in-the-Green
First picture of the Hastings Jack-in-the-Green taken at the fantastic event earlier today. Plenty more to follow soon.
Merry May Day to one and all!
At the time this post appears, as the sun rises just after 5:30 on May 1st 2010 a number of Jack-in -the-Greens will be awoken across the UK. They will parade around towns, villages and cities bringing the summer and “Jacks Magic” with them.
A Merry May Day and a Happy Beltaine to one and all!
A Riddle
I am born on May Morning by sticks, bells, and ribbons
I am the sap in the dark root
I am the dancer with his six fools
I am the tump behind the old church
I am the lost soul under the misericord
I am the oak against the stars
I am the face that peers through the leaves
I am the fear in a childs mind
I am the demon on the roof-boss
I am killed in October and laid on church altars
I am the guiser on the bright bonfire
I am the old grain sown with the seed
I am the flame in the pumpkins grin
I am the spirit in the kern-baby’s bosom
Annual Events
I’m pleased to say that the list of events that feature the Green Man, Jack-in-the-Green etc is growing every year. The list below is our current list but we are always extremely grateful to hear of any others that we may have missed. I’ve included links to all of the below as some have not fixed their dates as yet. If you would like to add details of an event here please e-mail us at greenman@virgin.net
Bristol Jack in the Green Saturday 1st May 2010
The Bristol Jack in the Green appears on the first Saturday in May starting from the historic Harbourside (outside the Arnolfini) and leads a magical procession through the streets of Bristol eventually ending the day on Horfield Common where he dies to release the spirit of summer. For pictures of the 2009 Bristol Jack in the Green visit our flickr site
Bristol Jack in the Green
Rochester Sweeps Festival and Jack-in-the-Green
The Rochester Sweeps festival still has a Jack in the Green Ceremony where the Jack is awoken on Blue Bell Hill on May Morning and is paraded through the streets during the three day festival attended by hundreds of Morris Teams
Rochester Sweeps Festival
Hasting Jack-in-the-Green Festival April 30th – 3rd May 2010
The Hastings Jack-in-the-Green festival was revived by Keith Leech in 1983 and is now one of the biggest annual gatherings of Morris Dancers in the country. The Jack is “released” every year and is central to the festival.
Hastings Jack-in-the-Green Festival
Deptford Jack-in-the-Green May 1st 2010
The Fowlers Troop Jack in the Green goes out on the streets of South East London or the City of London every May Day
Deptford Jack in the Green
Brentham May Day and Jack-in-the-Green
Brentham has a big celebration every May which includes a Jack in the Green
Brentham Jack in the Green
Knutsford May Day and Jack-in-the-Green
May Day in Knutsford is celebrated over the May Bank holiday weekend. The main focus is the May Queen but there is a Jack in the Green
Knutsford Jack in the Green
City of London Jack-in-the-Green
The City of London Jack-in-the-Green appears in the City on May Day
City of London Jack in the Green
Oxford Jack-in-the-Green
A Jack in the Green who appears in Oxford on May Day
Oxford Jack in the Green
Whitstable Jack-in-the-Green
Oyster Morris organise the Whitstable Jack
Whitstable Jack in the Green
Beltane Bash 30th & 31st May 2010
The parade in 2009 (Sunday 24th May) started from the Conway Hall Red Lion Square London WC1 at 10:30 Led by traditional giants, the Jack-in-the-Green, Thor & Holda, Herne and Andred, Naughty Fairies and The Bogies.
Beltane Bash
Green Man Day—Pilton Festival (Barnstaple)
The Green Man Day includes a stilt walking Green Man resplendent in foliage. The ritual enacted at the festival is believed to represent the initial antagonism of the Prior of Pilton and the Green Man and his subsequent inclusion within the church (The church of St Mary has it’s own Green Man) The festival is usually held on the third weekend in July
Pilton Festival
Clun Green Man Festival 1st – 3rd May 2010
The Clun Green Man Festival is a springtime festival, held over three days on the first May Bank Holiday of the year. The Festival takes place in the picturesque town of Clun in South Shropshire and features a modern interpretation of the Green Man
Clun Green Man Festival
Carshalton Straw Jack 4th September 2010
A Celebration of Harvest this takes place in September each year. The straw Jack is ritually stripped in the evening so that all present can take a keepsake and then he is burnt in a brazier. It is hoped that he will be burnt as a complete figure one year
Carshalton Straw Jack
The Green Man
For many people their first experience of the Green Man is a chance sighting of a strange stone foliate face looking down at them from high above in a church or cathedral. Just what this supposedly pagan representation of fertility and the greenwood is doing in a Christian place of worship, has puzzled people throughout the ages. A subversive image placed by stone carvers as a link to a pre-Christian religion? A reminder that we all come from the earth and will one day return? Or a representation of evil carefully placed to remind churchgoers to steer away from sin?
Lady Raglan who coined the term “Green Man” thought that the Green Man of churches and abbeys was one in the same with “the figure known variously as the Green Man, Jack in the Green, Robin Hood, the King of the May, and the Garland who is the central figure in the May Day celebrations throughout northern and central Europe.” Many people still support these connections, believing that the Green Man has many faces and that each of these do indeed have deep seated and possibly spiritual links via an ancient race memory of a time when the Greenwoods covered most of what is now Britain.
But many disagree vehemently with these connections arguing that there is no evidence that the Jack-in –the-Green dates back any further than the sweeps processions of the late eighteenth century, (and the Garland only slightly further). That Robin Hood had no connections with The Green Man until Richard Carpenters cult series “Robin of Sherwood” created a link via the shamanic/deific figure of Herne the Hunter and his links with Cernunnos. That if the King of the May had any actual link with the Green Man carvings found in churches and other locations then there would be at least be some evidence that the carvings were in some way made a part of the May celebrations, or at least mentioned, which it seems they were not!
And yet others argue that even if these connections never did exist, then they have now been created and therefore will henceforth be forever inseparably entwined in that magical way that myth, legend and folklore seem to take on an unstoppable life force of their own.
Environmentalists, New Agers, Pagans and neo Pagans all have their own interpretations of who the Green Man is and what he represents to them and their beliefs.
Even the stone carvings found in churches, cathedrals, castles and varied other locations may not all be as they at first seem. Some Green Man hunters classify them into different types: Leaf masks, simple faces formed from a single leaf. Foliate faces created by more than one leaf. Faces disgorging foliage or vines from mouth, eyes, and/or ears. Other hunters allow inclusion of Cat and other animal faces created from or including leaves or vegetation of some kind.
Images of the green man are found across England, Great Britain, Europe and parts of Asia and North Africa. He may date back as far as the third millennium BC, and is still being reproduced in stone, wood, art, song, story and poem today. He may be found in his guise as dusty stone or wood carving looking down from on high in churches cathedrals and abbeys throughout England. He can be seen as a sometimes mischievous, sometimes dark figure found in Morris dances; both traditional and modern. As Jack-in-the-Green leading or included in May Day processions each year, or bought to life in new and vibrant traditions, like the Green Man of Clun who each year battles the Frost Queen on a bridge above the river Clun.
I believe that the answer to the question of “who is the Green Man” may simply be that there is no single answer, that he is indeed an enigma, not to be solved but to continue to instil curiosity and wonder in past, current and future generations.
And so, what you at first may have thought a gentle pastime of wandering around quiet parish churches snapping the odd photo of a Green Man on high before retiring to the nearest pub (possibly The Green Man) for a pint of Green Man ale (yes it exists) you may now realise is a pastime fraught with conflict, rivalry and quite possibly intrigue.
I shall leave the last poignant words to Ronald Millar:
“Two millennia old or older, the Green Man is the vibrant spirit of the wild wood, of vegetation in leaf or bud, of spring, pool and river, earth and sky, indeed the totality of nature. His voice is the hiss of the high wind in ash and oak. And his profundity those sudden silences of a forest when all Nature seems to hold her breath. When we hear or feel him no more mankind will have run its course.”
And now over to you: I invite conversation and discourse on your thoughts about the Green Man.
Please feel free to add your comments using the link below or by e-mailing The Company of the Green Man at greenman@virgin.net
