In the Arthurian legend of SirGawain and the Green Knight, Gawain accepts the challenge from the Green Knightto allow any opponent to strike his neck with an axe that he holds. In returnthe opponent must travel to the Green Knight's castle in one year to accept asimilar blow in return. Gawain takes the axe and with one blow beheads the GreenKnight. All are amazed when the Green Knight gets to his feet and retrieves hishead and rides off reminding Gawain of his agreement. The story concludes when Gawainmeets with the Green Knight at the specified time. Gawain is 'spared' when afterthree attempts with the axe Gawain receives only a minor wound to his neck.Gawain returns as the most chivalrous knight of King Arthur's court.

There are several interestingaspects of the story written in the 14th century, (author anonymous). When theGreen Knight first appears in the court of King Arthur he and his horse are cladentirely in green. In one hand he holds an axe and the other a holly branch. TheGreen Knight perhaps symbolizes death and rebirth. The story describes Gawain'sarmour in detail. He carries a red shield with a pentangle design on the frontto symbolize Gawain is faultless in his five senses and is faithful to the fivewounds Christ received on the cross. The inside of his shield is adorned with animage of the Virgin Mary. Also worthy of mention, Gawain sets off on his journey through the cold ofwinter and encounters fierce creatures, until Christmas Eve when he spots a castledescribed as a wondrous dwelling  with a moat and many trees. A contrastto the harsh winter landscape hitherto encountered.

The above could almost beconstrued as a contest between religion and pagan values.

   Robin Hood dressed in Lincolngreen and resided in Sherwood Forest, Nottingham generates all sorts ofconnotations. Could it be there is an echo of the distant past in the legend?

Then there is the story of JohnBarleycorn, the poem by Robert Burns.

" They took a plough andplough'd him down, put clods upon hishead.

And as they hae sworn a solemnoath, John Barleycorn was dead.

But the cheerfu' Spring camekindly on, and show'rs began to fall,

John Barleycorn got up again,and sore surprised them all. .