The Green of Folklore

The human eye has evolved to see green more easily than any other colour. Not surprising really as we are surrounded by and drawn in by the colour in the natural environment. Scientific evidence now proves the benefits to mental and physical health of being in a green space. But this colour is also highly significant in folklore.

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The Green Man, perhaps representing the “spiritual dimension of nature”, appears regularly in British folklore, carved into churches at least from the 12th century and appearing in early pageants and rituals. The wild man of the woods or woodwose probably dates back to similar times. The Green Man might be the Green Knight who faces Sir Gawain, this knight has green skin, green hair, even a green horse. 

Various green ghosts or green ladies turn up frequently in local legends. The Scottish Glaistig can be a female figure, sometimes wearing a long green gown, and perhaps more a fairy than a ghost. Very much like the fae, she needs to be handled with care as she can be benevolent but she can also turn upon any mortals in her path.

In the theatre green is considered unlucky. Some suggest that this superstition originated from the death on stage of playwright and actor Moliere. He was of course wearing a costume of green.

Green eyes were said to be a sign of a witch, and green is the colour favoured by the fae, hence the superstition that it is an unlucky colour for ordinary mortals to wear. But brides especially are warned against choosing a dress of green for their wedding, for fear of offending the others and bringing disaster

Acknowledgments:

Art: Arthur Wardle, A Fairytale

Westwood & Simpson: The Lore of the Land

Dee Dee Chainey: A Treasury of British Folklore

Emma Mitchell: The Wild Remedy 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/human-brain-hardwired-for-rural-tranquillity-8996368.html#