Because we're such nice guys, we over here at WoW.com would like to remind everyone that while the
Hallow's End festivities have come to a much-too-soon end (who doesn't enjoy all of Azeroth feeling a little bit like the Undercity?), a new, very short holiday kicks off, too.
Day of the Dead, literally the English translation of
Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican holiday celebrated to remember those who have moved on, begins right when Hallow's End ends. The short, two-day holiday happens on November 1 and 2, coinciding with the Catholic holidays of
All Saints' Day and
All Soul's Day, which are celebrated elsewhere in the world.
During the event, players will have to /dance with an NPC named Catrina in order to get the
Dead Man's Party Achievement, a reference to the Catrina dolls of Mexico, those skeletons in fabulously fashionable dresses and hats. There's also a recipe in-game for
Bread of the Dead, another translation of the holiday's
Pan de Muerto. This is required for The Grateful Dead, which appear to be a collection of quests requiring players to bring the bread to various ghosts in graveyards all over the game world. We hear the bread also goes very well with some Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia.
Tags: Achievements, All-Saints-Day, All-Souls-Day, Bread-of-the-Dead, Day-of-the-Dead, Dead-Mans-Party, Dia-delos-Muertos, Grateful-Dead, Mexican-Holiday, Pan-de-Muerto
Filed under: Events, Odds and ends, Achievements
Nov 1st 2009 at 1:22AM 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Boize Nov 1st 2009 1:37AM
The Grateful Dead can only be turned in once, in the graveyard of your home city to the Cheerful Spirit (who stand next to his/her portrait and is visible once you use an Orange Marigold or a Bouquet of Orange Marigolds).
Moonglade has a full write-up of everything included in this two day event at:
http://moonglade.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/10-more-achievement-points/
fearthefireblade Nov 1st 2009 2:41AM
Ah, but you're wrong! The Grateful Dead can be turned on again and again with no penalty but mellow pleasure. In fact, you can earn great rewards from this including, but not limited to a Box of Rain, Bouquet of Roses, and a Sugar Magnolia.
An ice cream flavor isn't the only contribution we had from Jerry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVdTQ3OPtGY
Frank Nov 1st 2009 1:08PM
man i freakin' LOVE that song. such a perfect tune.
SaintStryfe Nov 1st 2009 1:44AM
The Spirit in Dalaran works for everybody, BTW.
I'm very saddened the pet is just for one day. I would love keeping him around.
kia Nov 1st 2009 2:15AM
The pet is fantastic. Very disappointing he isn't able to be kept, as he'd become just about my favorite pet in my collection otherwise.
thebl4ckd0g Nov 1st 2009 10:43AM
I agree. I posted a thread on the Blizzard Suggestions forums for the pet to be permanent. He's awesome!!!
Reminds me of Grim Fandango. :D
paradoxfactor Nov 1st 2009 2:37AM
Just did it and I love the pet! I really hope Blizzard does more mini holidays like this (maybe do an in game April Fool's day quest? Arbor Day?). One thing that did happen is somehow I lost all my Day of the Dead items from my inventory and vault after using a portal from Shattrath to Ironforge. No bread, candles, mask, and worse of all, no pet. Not sure if the portal is what caused it, but someone else said they had the same thing happen to them too. Hopefully it's just a temporary problem. I reported it to Blizzard so we'll see. Though if it is wide spread, Blizzard could make it up to us by making the marionette a permanent pet, LOL.
TR Nov 1st 2009 3:01AM
Did the Grateful Dead quest a while ago and still scratching my head over it. Basically the only way we're all learning how to do the quest seems to be from reading it online. The quest giver and receiver are the same NPC, and since he or she is the only one that tells you how to see the dead spirits to hand in the quest, you have to know how to complete the quest to get it in the first place. Confusing
Agerath Nov 1st 2009 10:03AM
I actually didn't need to read online; saw the magnolias, bought, used. Maybe I'm a genius, though?
Dightkuz Nov 1st 2009 3:06AM
We hear the bread also goes very well with some Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia.
Delitescent racism...
The_Reflection Nov 1st 2009 3:27AM
So not only is the awesome pet not permanent, but if you log out or zone out, the pet disappears.
Blizz found a way to ruin a 48-hour holiday in the first 5 minutes.
Ametrine Nov 1st 2009 6:15AM
Their version of the holiday wasn't really that great to begin with, so... yeah... they made something that already was made of fail... fail even more.
Bad show, Blizzard, very bad show indeed.
rosencratz Nov 1st 2009 7:06AM
Would've been way better if nothing happened at all right?... Right?
"ZOMG! Vanity items and RPG holiday events aren't improving my outlook in life!"
I visited the Stormwind graveyard today to find a clear split, One half of the people were moshing out and having a laugh, getting drunk and cracking jokes whilst the other half were just sat that /s'ing and /y'ing "Duh! What's the point!" "i Don't get it!"
Please people, if you find something in the world that people enjoy that you can't, please don't feel free to go out of your way totry and convince everyone else to be as miserable and unimaginative as you are.
Ametrine Nov 1st 2009 7:25AM
I'm just saying, it seems like a bit of an afterthought, along the lines of the Pirate Day thing, and the excessive bugginess certainly doesn't improve one's overall opinion of the thing.
Especially considering everything obtainable in it is restricted to the two-day event itself - even the pet by itself, if it were made permanent like the rest of the holiday-obtained pets, would improve this immensely.
I'm not saying that it would've been better if nothing happened, just that what did happen was rather lacking and decidedly flawed.
Kayri Nov 1st 2009 3:40AM
I love the The Grateful Dead references. such a great band
Munky Nov 1st 2009 11:22PM
I love the Dead Man's Party reference. Oingo Boingo rocks!
Shaverdian Nov 1st 2009 3:45AM
Love the artwork there.
Random Nov 1st 2009 3:53AM
I can confirm that all items related to this holiday will disappear if you use any type of portal or a mage's teleport spell. This includes bread, the non-permanent pet item, and the skull mask. The only exception appears to be the bouquet of orange marigolds.
The quest appears to be able to be done once, at the graveyards of your home capital, Shattrath, or Dalaran. I found it easiest to do it at my home capital, since the material for the Bread of the Dead can be purchased at Old Azeroth innkeepers and cooking materials providers, but I did lose my non-permanent pet teleporting back to Dalaran. *shrug*
Manuel Solis Nov 1st 2009 3:59AM
Well, I´m glad Blizz does a mini holiday based in such an important Mexican tradition. As one of thusands of players that live here, I feel like Blizzard is making more than stablishing servers in my country, but triyng to get the game closer to the people that plays it . If only wow.com allowed us to enter some of contest.... (JK, u do a great job, and I understand is some class of legal issue)
poggg Nov 1st 2009 4:16AM
It's interesting and all, but...these mini events just kinda feel so...forced, you know? Like, you spend five minutes and...that's it. You've exhausted everything they have to offer.
Of course, Blizzard could just not do them at all, so I guess I shouldn't be whining.