Glorious Green Men (and Women)

Create and Discover ’21 – arty crafts inspired by artefacts

Challenge 8 –Glorious Green Men (and Women)

You can find Green Men (and Women) in many places around Rochester Cathedral Some are painted in bright colours, others are just carved in stone or wood and left unpainted.

Green Man 2.JPG

There are various ideas as to their meaning, but many people believe they symbolise springtime or new life – an important message in the Christian faith. The faces are surrounded by greenery, reminding us that we are all part of God’s creation. You will see branches sprouting from their mouths, representing the spread of God’s word.

In this challenge we’d like you to create your own Green Man. You may wish to make a Green Man pȃpier-maché mask or just use a paper plate / circle of card for your creation. You could decorate your Green Man with real greenery collected from your garden (ask permission first) or just use paper and scraps of material. You may prefer  to colour your Green Man with paint, pencils or crayons – the choice is yours.

Our Glorious Green Men Gallery might give you inspiration.

Details on how to create a pȃpier-maché mask can be downloaded here.