Day 5: What Child Is This
On the Fifth Day of Christmas, mrGreen317 hid for me, a bison in an ornament in an evergreen tree!
Welcome to the Twelve Songs of Christmas (12 SoC). Each cache is a simple traditional cache within the SGL lands of the Glendale Valley and surrounding areas.
For the series final to be published in mid-January 2022, be sure to note (and record somewhere in your records) the green bold text under the GC code included in each cache 'ornament' with this series. For the ornament-type caches, this will be located on the back-side of the printed/laminated circle that features the picture that goes with that Day of Christmas.
While the retailers have pretty much packed away the Christmas wares for 2021, the traditional Christmas season actually runs from December 25 through January 5, the "Twelve Days of Christmas". (After today, you still have seven more days of Christmas left to enjoy!) Here are some geocache-style 'ornaments' hidden for the "Twelve Songs of Christmas" to grab this Christmas season or any other time of the year when geocaching is on the day's agenda.
Song of Day 5
What Child Is This
While set to the tune of an English folk song (Greensleeves) and written in Great Britain, this song is more popular in the United States than in England. It first appeared in published form in 1871 with the publication Christmas Carols Old and New, although it was written possibly as early as 1865. The tune "Greensleeves" dates back much farther, possibly to the late 1500s.
What Child Is This has lyrics written by William Chatterton Dix, who is also known for the Christmas/Epiphany hymn "As with Gladness Men of Old" (which is sung to the tune named for him, "Dix"). Dix was working at an insurance company as its manager when he wrote these words to the carol. At the time he suffered with an unexpected illness that had him bedridden and dealing with depression. It is said that the illness brought him near to death, yet he experienced spiritual renewal while he was recovering. During this time, he read the Bible extensively, and he was inspired to write both "What Child Is This" and "As with Gladness Men of Old", among others. The central theme of the carol would be the pondering of the shepherds as they arrived at the manager to ponder 'What child is this?". The chorus and following verses give the answer to this question.
The pairing of Dix's words with the melody of "Greensleeves" might have been done by John Stainer, one of editors of Christmas Carols Old and New, who also was responsible for harmonizing its musical setting, although this is not known for sure. It should also be noted that various other Christmas and New Year texts have been associated with "Greensleeves" going back to as early as 1686. (Research primarily from: this wikipedia article)
Be sure to note some helpful cache information in the section below before you head out.
This cache is a bison inside an ornament host, so please bring a pen or pencil along to sign the log. The log slip is "Rite in the Rain" paper, so it should resist getting wet, however, a pencil will work best if the slip is wet when you go to sign it. If the slip is dry, a standard ball point pen will do fine. Water-based inks may not write on the paper very well and should be avoided if possible.
The outer host should easily separate to access the bison, which will contain the log inside once screwed open. Please be careful with the outer clear plastic container to help this 'ornament' last as long as possible out in the wild. When closing up the cache, the two halves of the outer ornament should stay closed mostly, as there is a notch made near the top to allow the bison attachment wire to go through the outer ornament shell without disrupting the ornament's ability to seal closed.
This cache is located in state game lands, so PLEASE observe all state game land rules and wear orange during hunting seasons. During the primary hunting season, finding this cache is recommended on Sunday only.
Most of the hike to the cache (assuming the gate is not open) is gravel SGL road. Right at GZ some thorns or brush might be encountered in the growing seasons, but GZ is right off the road, so there should not be too much trouble to get to the cache container.
Warmer weather could mean ticks are present, so please be watchful. Ticks pose a potential health risk, so please be sure to check that any ticks are removed from one's person after seeking the geocache.
FTF Gifts: This cache will have an FTF gift hanging next to it outside of the cache container. FTF, please detach the FTF gift with its baggie and take with you. Merry Christmas!
A congratulations on FTF goes to ted28285 and r.e.s.t.seekers . Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas from the 3 "E"s!
(mrGreen317, Sage-Hippo, and littleEEE)