Feast of Winter Veil



The Feast of Winter Veil, also called the feast of Great-Winter, or simply Winter Veil or Winter's Veil, is an in-game, end-of-year, several week long holiday event seeming to be the in-game counterpart of  Christmas and other holidays at the end of the year.

From the World of Warcraft calendar:

''Greatfather Winter is visiting the cities of Ironforge and Orgrimmar, courtesy of Smokywood Pastures. And throughout Azeroth, it is the season to be jolly!''

New in 2020

 * A Tiny Winter Hat is obtainable on the Smokywood Pastures cart in Orgrimmar and Ironforge
 * The daily quest to kill The Abominable Greench (You're a Mean One...) requires level 30, and awards the rare version of the Stolen Present at level 60
 * This year's Winter Veil Gift is Jingles, found in the Shaking Pet Carrier
 * This year's Gently Shaken Gift is a Wreath-A-Rang.

Info from the official site
'Twas the feast of Great-Winter And all through the land All the races were running With snowballs in hand.

The cooks were all frantic And for those "in the know" Swoops and owls were crashing Like new-fallen snow.

Cookies and eggnog Were consumed by all As the snowballs flew freely And drunks smashed into walls.

May your feast of Great-Winter Be one merry and bright And from all here at Blizzard We wish you a fun night!

The Feast of Winter Veil is upon us, and Greatfather Winter is busy spreading holiday cheer in major cities across the land! Here are a few holiday treats players can now experience in-game:
 * The Jinglepocket Goblins have set up their seasonal fare shops in major cities. Adventurers can purchase many holiday favorites - including Greatfather's Winter ale, candy canes, gingerbread cookie recipes, and mistletoe.
 * All the cheer-spreading is making Greatfather Winter hungry, and he is looking for adventurers to get him his daily fix of milk and cookies.
 * Smokeywood Pastures needs a few brave adventurers to investigate the disappearance of a shipment of holiday goods traveling though Alterac.

Origins
The later seasons of Azeroth are marked as a time of change in many cultures. The dwarves and the tauren especially look to the legend of the coming Winter Veil - the blanketing of the land in snow, thus heralding a time of renewal - as a time for celebration. Though the understanding of the legends that the races of Azeroth share are not dissimilar, the ways they choose to acknowledge them are as diverse as the races themselves. The term "Winter Veil" is said to stem from a supernatural being referred in many cultures to as Greatfather Winter. As he would walk the land late in the seasons, winter itself would be his billowing cloak. In his wake was the blanketing of the land in snow, and thus it is said that Greatfater Winter would cast his wintry veil over the land. Though parts of Azeroth may lie in snow, it gives the land time for rebirth and renewal.

Ever consumed with the research of their origins, the dwarves choose to celebrate the season as a recognition of Greatfather Winter himself. They consider him to be the personification of one of the ancients of Azeroth - the Titans. Much as they claim lineage in one degree or another to these mystical beings, they consider their snowy home of Dun Morogh as the prime example of Greatfather Winter's blessings. The holiday was introduced to the Alliance at large by Muradin Bronzebeard.

The tauren and their shamanistic understanding of winter, along with their recent emergence into druidic endeavors, fit in well with the legend of Winter Veil. They focus almost entirely on the renewing aspects of the lore, however, leaving legend worship to those races (as they view it) less in tune with the nature of things. Many tauren choose this time as the right time to give thanks for the blessings of their new home in Mulgore.

Presents
Near the end of the Feast of Winter Veil (December 25 through January 2), various gifts are available underneath the trees near Greatfather Winter in Ironforge, and Great-father Winter in Orgrimmar.

While some of the gifts are available to all, you must be at least a certain level to receive others.

Holiday-only items
There are several special items and plans that are only available during the Feast of Winter Veil.

Armor and weapons

 * Miniature Winter Veil Tree
 * Glowing Gift

Toys
Thirty-two toys are available, most of which are exclusive to Winter Veil:

Seven toys are sold by vendors year-round:
 * Blue Crashin' Thrashin' Racer Controller
 * Foot Ball
 * The Swineskin
 * Tiny Blue Ragdoll
 * Tiny Green Ragdoll )
 * Toy Train Set
 * Wind-Up Train Wrecker

One toy can be purchased for five Merry Supplies at the Garrison:
 * Crashin' Thrashin' Killdozer Controller

One toy is mailed to players after completing a chain starting with You're a Mean One...:
 * Winter Veil Disguise Kit

Previous-year gifts are only found in the Stolen Present (daily):
 * Crashin' Thrashin' Battleship and Crashin' Thrashin' Juggernaught (2019 gift)
 * (2018 gift)
 * Greatfather Winter's Hearthstone (2018 gift)
 * (2017 gift)
 * (2017 gift)
 * Endothermic Blaster (2016 gift)
 * Disposable Winter Veil Suits (2016 gift)
 * Crashin' Thrashin' Flamer Controller (2015 gift)
 * Red Wooden Sled (2015 gift)
 * Crashin' Thrashin' Shredder Controller (2014 gift)
 * Cushions (2014 gifts)
 * Fuzzy Green Lounge Cushion
 * Pineapple Lounge Cushion
 * Safari Lounge Cushion
 * Zhevra Lounge Cushion
 * Crashin' Thrashin' Flyer Controller (2013 gift)
 * The Pigskin and the Special Edition Foot Ball (2012 gift)
 * MiniZep Controller (2010 gift)
 * Crashin' Thrashin' Racer Controller (2008 gift)

Note that there are two versions of The Pigskin listed. Both can be acquired and added to the Toy Box, as they have different item IDs. One version was the 2012-gift (and awarded the Feat of Strength They're Both Footballs?), while the other version is sold by toy vendors for, but acquiring the vendor-sold items will not award the feat. The achievement-criteria item can rarely be found in the Stolen Present.

Pets
Ten pets are available during Winter Veil:

2020 Winter Veil gift: Shaking Pet Carrier.

One pet spawns as a battle pet in the Giant Snow Globes:
 * Globe Yeti

One pet is sold by toy vendors year round and is also rarely found in the Stolen Present:
 * Blue Clockwork Rocket Bot

Three pets are only found in the Stolen Present (daily):
 * Clockwork Rocket Bot (2007 gift)
 * Lump of Coal
 * Rotten Helper Box

One of four pets is found in the Gaily Wrapped Present (one-time per character each year, requires level 20):
 * Green Helper Box (Father Winter's Helper)
 * Jingling Bell (Winter Reindeer)
 * Red Helper Box (Winter's Little Helper)
 * Snowman Kit (Tiny Snowman)

One pet is rarely found in Snow Mounds in the quest area of Frostfire Ridge:
 * Grumpling (companion)

Crafting recipes
Sent in a letter from Greatfather Winter, players with Cooking, Leatherworking, or Tailoring skills will receive:
 * Cooking: Recipe: Hot Apple Cider
 * Leatherworking: Pattern: Winter Boots
 * Tailoring: Pattern: Green Winter Clothes (Alliance) or Pattern: Red Winter Clothes (Horde)

Vendors sell the following recipes:
 * Cooking
 * Recipe: Hot Apple Cider
 * Recipe: Gingerbread Cookie
 * Recipe: Winter Veil Egg Nog
 * Tailoring
 * Pattern: Green Winter Clothes (Horde)
 * Pattern: Red Winter Clothes (Alliance)
 * Pattern: Winter Boots

Inside the Ticking Present (from December 25 to January 2) or the Smokywood Pastures Special Gift (quest reward from saving Metzen), players may find:
 * Alchemy: Recipe: Elixir of Frost Power
 * Blacksmithing: Plans: Edge of Winter
 * Enchanting: Formula: Enchant Weapon - Winter's Might
 * Engineering: Schematic: Snowmaster 9000
 * Leatherworking: Pattern: Gloves of the Greatfather
 * Tailoring: Pattern: Green Holiday Shirt

General goods
Vendors in Alliance and Neutral cities have the Red Winter Clothes pattern available for sale, while vendors in Horde cities have the Green Winter Clothes pattern. (Note: It is possible to acquire the other faction's winter clothes pattern because the associated vendors are neutral to all players, but be prepared to die multiple times due to PvP attacks and city guards.)

Winter Hats
During the Feast of Winter Veil, some bosses now have a festive holiday hat equipped with a chance of dropping that hat. An extension to this, the winter hats also have an extremely low chance to drop from any humanoid.


 * Finely-Tailored Green Holiday Hat
 * Raids
 * Blackwater Behemoth in Eternal Palace
 * Varimathras in Antorus, the Burning Throne
 * Dungeons
 * Raal the Gluttonous in Waycrest Manor
 * Aspix in Temple of Sethraliss
 * Illysanna Ravencrest in Black Rook Hold
 * King Deepbeard in Eye of Azshara


 * Finely-Tailored Red Holiday Hat
 * Raids
 * Fetid Devourer in Uldir
 * Krosus in The Nighthold
 * Dungeons
 * Vol'kaal in Atal'Dazar
 * Skycap'n Kragg in Freehold
 * Talixae Flamewreath in Court of Stars
 * Saprish in the The Seat of the Triumvirate


 * Green Winter Hat
 * Raids
 * Baroness Frieda in Castle Nathria
 * Tyrant Velhari in
 * Beastlord Darmac in Blackrock Foundry
 * The Butcher in Highmaul
 * Galakras in Siege of Orgrimmar
 * Dungeons
 * Soulbinder Nyami in
 * Oshir in Iron Docks
 * Drahga Shadowburner in Grim Batol
 * Lord Godfrey in Shadowfang Keep
 * Mage-Lord Urom in The Oculus


 * Red Winter Hat
 * Raids
 * Sire Denathrius in Castle Nathria
 * Baroness Frieda in Castle Nathria
 * Iron Reaver in
 * Flamebender Ka'graz in Blackrock Foundry
 * General Nazgrim in Siege of Orgrimmar
 * Dungeons
 * Devos in Spires of Ascension
 * Globgrog in Plaguefall
 * Gug'rokk in Bloodmaul Slag Mines
 * Commander Tharbek in Upper Blackrock Spire
 * Corla, Herald of Twilight in Blackrock Caverns
 * High Priestess Azil in The Stonecore
 * Admiral Ripsnarl in The Deadmines
 * Grand Magus Telestra in The Nexus
 * Jedoga Shadowseeker in Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom

Quests
There are three sets of quests available during Winter Veil. First, a quick intro to the holiday itself and a short fetch quest:
 * 1) Greatfather Winter is Here! / Great-father Winter is Here!
 * 2) Treats for Greatfather Winter / Treats for Great-father Winter

Another quest series reveals some of the history of Winter Veil, and awards some reputation with the home city.
 * 1) The Reason for the Season
 * 2) The Feast of Winter Veil (quest)

The last set introduces the daily boss up in Alterac Mountains, The Abominable Greench:
 * 1) You're a Mean One...
 * 2) A Smokywood Pastures' Thank You!

Other info

 * January 2 is the last day of the Feast of Winter Veil.
 * Kissing a '' under a mistletoe will magically create for you 5 sprigs of Mistletoe or 5 Handful of Snowflakes. You can also get Fresh Holly (x5), which can be used to transform your mount into a reindeer for thirty minutes.
 * There are snow mounds, Holiday Snow, in the snowy parts of the Alterac Mountains and across Dun Morogh during this event. You can pick up Snowballs off them. They used to have a knock back effect, but that has been changed.
 * There are special Hardpacked Snowdrifts in Alterac Valley during this event. You can pick 5 Hardpacked Snowballs off them. They have a knock back and dismount effect so use them wisely.
 * The Winter Wondervolt Machine is available in or just outside of several cities to transform your character's appearance into a Winter Veil gnome. Your gnome outfit is randomly red or green.
 * Around this event, Community Manager avatars would become a festive snowman icon, shown to the right. This stopped with the new forum system.

In Hearthstone



 * In Hearthstone, the Winter Veil Wreath card back was rewarded for winning in the Gift Exchange Tavern Brawl. The flavor text reads: "A beautiful Winter Veil wreath around a snow globe full of THE FROSTY DESTRUCTION OF YOUR OPPONENTS! I mean, good cheer."