Lorewalker Mo' - The feast of Winter Veil

As we hang up our raiding gear for the festive break, all the good guildies can look forward to some presents under the tree. But why do we celebrate winter veil and who is greatfather winter supposed to be?

Dwarves have observed the feast of winter veil for centuries, handed down from their iron ancestors in Ulduar. The festival is meant to bring some cheer as the cold and dark of winter takes over for a few months. Dwarves are also a shamanic people so the changing of seasons has an extra meaning for them as a sign of the shifting power of the elements; as the earth rests at the end of farming season water takes over in the form of snow.

The story goes that at the end of the year greatfather winter travels down the land from the north, with a veil of snow as his cloak. His veil of snow renews and replenishes the land beneath it as he goes. Those that welcome his coming with a feast and celebration will be sure of a healthy harvest in the New Year.

As the dwarves spread the tradition of their feast to the rest of the alliance the idea spread. Night and high elves appreciated the idea of the renewal of nature, while humans and gnomes appreciated the idea of a feast. The idea eventually reached the horde as well as neutral factions like the goblin cartels. It didn’t take long for them to find some money in it.

The traditional feast soon picked up new concepts like buying jumpers you’ll never wear again and overpriced sweets and somewhere in all the wrapping paper the original idea got lost. Now we have a dwarf in Ironforge there courtesy of Smokeywood Pastures™ giving out presents with two convenient vendors for all your winter veil paraphernalia.

As to the original story, well the dwarves were created in Ulduar and served the titan keepers. As they were warped by the curse of flesh they had to travel the world and understand it as fleshy dwarves. They likely understood the coming of winter as the power of the titan keeper Hodir, who they once served in Ulduar, spreading across the land so that Freya (the keeper of life) could replenish it.

Whether you see it as a important ritual for the renewal of the land or an important reason for a piss up, have a very merry winter veil!