The Mysterious GREEN MAN at Ministers Island NB

The Green Man is a legendary being primarily interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, representing the cycle of new growth that occurs every spring. The Green Man is most commonly depicted in a sculpture, or other representation of a face which is made of, or completely surrounded by, leaves. There are several Green Man carvings at historic Ministers Island near St. Andrews, New Brunswick.

The 490-acre island is several hundred metres offshore immediately northeast of the town and is a geographical novelty in that it is accessible at low tide by a wide gravel bar suitable for vehicle travel.

The Island became famous in the late nineteenth century as the summer home of Sir William Van Horne, the president of the Canadian Pacific Railway. By the time of Van Horne's death in 1915, the island had been transformed into a remarkable place that had a sandstone mansion furnished in the most lavish late Edwardian manner, manicured grounds, scenic roads, greenhouses that turned out exotic fruits and vegetables, as well as a breeding farm producing prizewinning horses and cattle.

The Green Man motif has many variations. Branches or vines may sprout from the mouth, nostrils, or other parts of the face, and these shoots may bear flowers or fruit. Found in many cultures from many ages around the world, the Green Man is often related to natural vegetation deities. Often used as decorative architectural ornaments, Green Men are frequently found in carvings on both secular and ecclesiastical buildings.

Some speculate that the mythology of the Green Man developed independently in the traditions of separate ancient cultures and evolved into the wide variety of examples found throughout history. (After Wikipedia and online sources)