The Green Man is an ancient symbol of nature, rebirth, spring...there are many interpretations. He is almost always represented by a man's face surrounded by or even made of leaves. He is found in many places and many cultures and many variations, and may predate Christianity. The symbol is often used as an architectural ornamentation for secular and religious buildings. The motif has never really gone out of style but had a resurgence of popularity in 19th centuryEngland and in this country in the sixties and seventies.The Green Man has been known by many names over the centuries; Green Man is a modern term, dating from 1939.