Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a prime example of the coexistence of Paganism and Christianity. In the story Sir Gawain is a Christian figure, but he becomes tempted by paganism.
In the beginning of the story, there is the celebration of Christmas, which is known as a Christian holiday. I find this to be significant because out of all the holidays the author chose Christmas. The Christmas celebration was interrupted by the entrance of the Green Knight. In the story he is described as a troll, which is a pagan creature. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight agree to battle. Their battle date is set in one year and one day.
One year and a day is important because it represents Wiccan religion, which is a part of pagan nature. Sir Gawain knew he was losing his Christian faith by seeking supernatural forces to beat the Green Knight, so Sir Gawain would visit the chapel. Sir Gawain confesses his sins to a priest which is a Catholic ritual. In Lanval and Sir Gawain,the coexistence of Paganism and Christianity are a balancing act in each story. Without having Paganism and Christianity the stories message would be dimmish.
