Now that we are actually doing the World Events instead of writing them off as nuisances that could be avoided as we had done for the past three years, I am beginning to wonder what the origins of these events actually are…
It began back in February when Kreeoni clued me into the fact that all of the annoying red envelopes I was getting from the plethora of Elders around Azeroth were in keeping with the Chinese New Year tradition. Something to do with luck…
Now with the Midsummer Fire Festival fast approaching, my interest was peaked once again. So, I refreshed my memory on what exactly goes on during the festival.
What do I have to do for this event?
Truck your ass around the world to every city and talk to people- If the bonfire is out at one of your faction’s cities or towns, you throw a flower in to relight the fire
- Truck your ass around the world to all of the opposing faction’s cities and try not to die as you talk to their people
- Dance on poles that make you spin for buffs and two dollar bills (I made up that second part)
- Throw flowers into lit bonfires for buffs
- Play with fire by completing various daily quests
- Collect Burning Blossoms and spend them as currency for a bunch of crap you have to keep in your bank as proof of your obsession with events (maybe it is just me)
How do all of these activities relate to real life events?
According to the Scandanavian Midsummer Festival in Colorado…
Scandinavians celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, with a festival of light, flowers, food, and music. The summer solstice celebration has its roots in pre-Christian practices and is a day when the spirits of nature join the human community to rejoice in the long days of summer. Midsummer was originally a fertility festival with many customs and rituals associated with nature and with the hope for a good harvest in autumn.
People gather to sing and dance around the festive maypole, women wear flower wreaths on their heads, and some people dress in traditional folk costume. It is a time to escape to the country to spend a relaxing time in nature – a time to connect with friends and family and exuberantly honor the joys of life.
Revilers in Denmark and Norway add their own flame to this celebration of the Summer Solstice. They bring the tradition of bonfires and wicker witch burning in remembrance of the horrid witchburnings in the 16th and 17th centuries.
My assessment of pole dancing might be slightly skewed, but I think that Blizzard picked-up this world event straight from the Scandinavians. It is a wonderful thing that World of Warcraft is encouraging us to learn more about global cultures and traditions. Next year, there totally needs to be a mime world event.
Don’t miss our
Midsummer Fire Festival Preview
with Wych from Bind on Equip
the week of June 14th!
Check out the Rawrcast Calendar
for a complete list of upcoming guests and show topics
