Green Man
The May Queen's male Consort is sometimes simply called the May King. He is known by many names. Some call him Jack-in-the-Green, Robin Hood or the woodland faery Puck - Robin Goodfellow. In France he was called Father May, in Russia he was the Little Leaf Man. He may be called Green George, Wild Man or Wodewose.
In all these places and in all these times he was dressed in leaves, in ivy, evergreens and flowers - he was entirely hidden from view - a living spirit of the spring vegetation.
'The Green Man', is a name coined by Lady Raglan in 1939. She referred to the mediaeval images, carved in stone or wood, usually found in churches. A face with foliage sprouting from his mouth, nose and ears or a face composed entirely of leaves.
At Samhuinn the Green Man is seen is the character of the 'Horned god' or 'Holly Lord' who rules over winter.
At Beltane 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.