Fredag 30/1 - 2/2Canthan New Year's Festival 2009: Honor the OxPut on your best red gear and prepare for a journey to Shing Jea Monastery, because it's time for the annual Canthan New Year's Festival. This year's beast of honor is the Celestial Ox, a divine bovine that will descend from the heavens to bestow good luck upon the populace for all of 2009—but only if the traditional New Year's feast is suitably delicious for such an illustrious guest.
The 2009 Canthan New Year's Festival begins at Noon Pacific (-8 GMT) on Friday, January 30, 2009 and will run all weekend, ending at Noon Pacific (-8 GMT) on Monday, February 2, 2009. On Sunday, February 1, the Celestial Ox will come down from the sky every three hours to sample Canthan delicacies in Shing Jea Monastery. Canthans living abroad won't be left out: Lion's Arch and Kamadan will also host smaller celebrations, complete with traditional New Year's decorations.
The feast culminates in dancing, fireworks, and a shower of gifts and special prizes for festival-goers, but only if the Ox is satisfied with the offering. Players can help ensure the Ox's blessing of good fortune by helping prepare dishes for the feast.
In addition to the great feast, players can explore the Shing Jea Boardwalk, encounter colorful NPCs who offer a variety of festival-themed quests, and visit the wandering Fortune Teller for a glimpse of their future destinies. Anyone who likes a good game of chance will enjoy the return of the Rollerbeetle Races, and those who are feeling slightly more combative can visit the Dragon Arena all weekend long for some all-out dodgeball action.
Mark your calendars and help the Ox ring in the New Year, Canthan-style!
Festival EventsA feast, fireworks displays, dancing, fortunes, and a trip to the races...all this and more await you during the Canthan New Year's Festival. Here's what you can expect:
* Satisfying the Celestial animal is a tall order, especially since every festival has a few unexpected problems for enterprising young adventurers to solve.
* Want a preview of the coming year? The fortune teller can peer into your future and provide you with a very real, and legally binding, fortune. Whether it bodes well or ill, your destiny will follow you out into the world beyond Shing Jea.
* The Shing Jea Boardwalk makes a special appearance during the festival, so you can play games to earn tickets and boost your luck—or play to lose, and work your way down a different life track.
* For you racing fans, make your way to the Rollerbeetle Racing Arena, where you'll be outfitted with your very own rollerbeetle racer, complete with its own set of racing skills. Races roll all weekend long.
* The Dragon Arena is now an official part of the festival, so head over for a brawling good time.
* The Celestial Feast lets players participate in cooking competitions to help chefs from across Cantha prepare special dishes in honor of the Celestial Ox. It'll be bad luck if the chefs fail to please the Ox, but the chefs reward player participation with Lunar Tokens, and the Celestial Ox rewards everyone for each properly prepared dish.
Special Miniature RewardIn addition to the festival rewards mentioned above, there is a special miniature available at this year's festival. Watch those Lunar Fortunes closely—your future just might include a miniature Celestial Ox.
If that's not enough to entice you, don't forget that if the Celestial Ox fully enjoys its meal, all those attending the feast receive an exciting (if somewhat volatile) special treat.
