Who can't get behind a day off and a great party? The holiday events in the original World of Warcraft game were so popular that the modern retail version of the game added a few. This is why this list might seem a bit short if you've never played the Classic version of WoW.
Most of the holidays here still exist in modern WoW along with several new additions, but there are a couple of them that you won't see outside of the vintage version of the game. The holidays on this list are the same ones that the game had in patch 1.12. Here's a list of the festivals and holidays in Classic WoW, in order of how much we like them.
9 Peon Day
Wait, what? Peons had a day? Everyone familiar with the older Real-Time Strategy (RTS) versions of Warcraft knows about peons, whose monosyllabic comments have generated many an internet meme. Yes, there was a Peon Day, but you probably don't know about it because it only existed in EU realms. Why? Because it's the anniversary of the original European Closed Beta Test. It disappeared in 2007 officially, but the vendors still show up the retail game for one day at the end of September on the EU realms. Now that you know, admit it, you want a worldwide Peon Day.
8 Noblegarden
Colorful and cute, this holiday was made for lush places like Elwynn Forest and Ashenvale. Since most of this holiday takes place in the starting areas and major cities, that makes sense. Similar to its real-life counterpart, Easter, Noblegarden takes place in April at the same time as the holiday weekend in North America. Other similarities include colored eggs hidden in certain zones and chocolate treats that turn players into adorable bunny rabbits.
7 Children’s Week
It's also called Week of the Wardens depending on your server, but it's the same holiday. It takes place in early May and as the name suggests, it's all about the kids. Specifically, the orphans of the perpetual war between the Horde and the Alliance. There is one glaring omission here, as there aren't any Forsaken children, but the subjects of Queen Sylvanas can still take part in the events and related quests. Players "adopt" a child for the week and show them some of the sights in Azeroth. It's actually a fun way to get into some of the lore, depending on what faction you play for.
6 Harvest Festival
Here's a tale as old as time. Virtually every culture has a festival in the autumn, and many are in honor of the harvest. Others honor those fallen in battle or friends and family that have crossed over before us. The Harvest Festival of Classic WoW has the features of both.
RELATED: 10 Essential Holiday Items in Classic WoW
On the festive side, there are the buffet tables in capital cities with a spread of special food items, enough to put the treats of Winter Viel or Noblegarden to shame. On the somber side, players can pay tribute to Uther the Lightbringer or Grom Hellscream, depending on their faction.
5 Midsummer Fire Festival
It's all about the bling in this roaring hot festival. The Midsummer Fire Festival is all about being seen. The sought after items for this holiday are clothes, trinkets, and other flashy items. The fire is a lot of good fun, too. The holiday is based on the ancient festivals of old that celebrated the summer solstice, or the longest day of the year, and is the binary opposite of the Lunar Festival, celebrating the sun instead of the moon. The Midsummer Fire Festival is high on the list because there's a lot of time to enjoy it, taking up two full weeks that span June and July. It also gets as much love as other popular festivals like Hallow's End, with a myriad of things to do in the modern retail version of the game in addition to the features in Classic WoW.
4 Love is in the Air
It's worth it to just see the somber, dank Undercity covered in pink banners and floating hearts. There's a lot more to do during this short (about six days) but very sweet February event, including a quest that revolves around magic spells and a mysterious producer of perfume. Each capital city has its own version of a quest that involves star-crossed lovers in need of a hero's aid. This holiday makes a few clever jokes at itself, with grinning goblins flitting about as cupids, spreading love and cheer. Collect poems, hearts, and loyalty pledges to obtain special items.
3 Lunar Festival
This festival was always a bit of a question mark, if you pardon the pun. The Lunar New Year is a festival mostly celebrated in Asian countries and doesn't have a western or North American counterpart. In the years since 2004, however, Lunar New Year has gone worldwide. Warcraft's Lunar Festival isn't so exotic anymore, now that we can buy those nifty red envelopes on almost every street corner in real life. Players who aren't Druids can get to know Moonglade and the city of Nighthaven. There's lots of fireworks and a boss who requires a raid group of 40 people to defeat.
2 Feast of Winter Veil
When else can you see an orc dressed up as Santa Claus? Oops, we meant to say, Greatfather Winter? This festive event has all the trappings of the holiday on which it's based, including festooned evergreen trees, strings of colorful lights, and most importantly, presents. Or as the folks in Azeroth refer to it, "phat lewt." An interesting feature of this festival is how you as a player can explore both the commercial and spiritual side of the holiday. Taurens and Dwarves see this celebration as a time to look back in somber remembrance, and you can complete a special holiday quest that explains their beliefs.
1 Hallow’s End
More than any other holiday in WoW, this is the fan favorite, and with good reason. The retail version of the game has kicked things up a few notches with additions like the Headless Horseman and his fearsome mount, which has a chance to drop if you kill him. Other holidays seem like satire in the gloomy shadows of Undercity and the surrounding zone of Tirisfal Glades, but this one fits perfectly. In fact, it's the focus of most of the action. The Forsaken are celebrating their independence from the Scourge on this day, along with continuing the holiday they celebrated in life. Visit Brill, listen to a rousing speech from the Banshee Queen herself, and burn a wicker man.