During the Harvest Festival of Azeroth, the Horde and the Alliance give thanks to heroes for the sacrifices - in some cases ultimate sacrifices - they have given on our behalf. In the time of the Harvest Festival, a great buffet is built up outside of Ironforge and Orgrimmar.
From Harvest Festival on the official site:
- Throughout history, many have given their lives to aid their allies. Every year, members of the Horde and the Alliance set aside time to honor the memories of the fallen and to pay tribute to those whose memories are held most dear: Uther Lightbringer, for the Alliance, and Grom Hellscream, for the Horde. Heroes take time from their adventures to visit the graves of these two great leaders and to leave a tribute to them at the memorial. To show their respect, members of the Alliance light a candle at the Tomb of Uther Lightbringer in the Western Plaguelands. Members of the Horde show their respect to Grom Hellscream by leaving a bottle of spirits at the base of the Hellscream Memorial in Demon Fall Canyon in Ashenvale.
Details
Outside of Orgrimmar and Ironforge is set a table and wandering ghostly NPCs of the appropriate faction, fallen heroes, who can be /wave(d), /salute(d) and /bow(ed).
The following items can be picked up from the table:
These foods can be fed to your (Hunter) pet, and provide an easy and free way to maintain your pet's happiness.
Quests
Honoring Uther at his grave
[30] Honoring a Hero from Wagner Hammerstrike at the Gates of Ironforge. The Alliance acknowledges many heroes, but none weave a more tragic tale than that of Uther Lightbringer. People can help to honor Uther by taking a offering to his tomb in the Western Plaguelands.
Rewards: [For the Light!]
[30] Honoring a Hero from Javnir Nashak outside Orgrimmar. The Horde acknowledges also many heroes, but none exemplify strength and sacrifice more than Grom Hellscream. People can honor Grom by taking a offering to his monument in the Demon Fall Canyon of Ashenvale.
[30] 
Rewards: [The Horde's Hellscream]
Additionally, 2 days later after completing either quest, the player gets [Bounty of the Harvest] in the mail. It is an item with a 12 hour cooldown which produces 4 food from the harvest.
Notes
- It is likely that, similar to Lunar Festival, Harvest Festival is an in-game event correspond to another important East Asian festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival as the dates coincided quite well:
- 2006: October 6
- 2007: September 25
- 2008: September 14
- Different Asian cultures celebrating the festival differently. Blizzard probably designed the event according the Korean version of Mid-Autumn Festival (Chuseok).
- In 2007, these quests were not available to Blood Elves or Draenei
- Coincides with the anniversary of Stress Test Beta Has Ended. The final day is Columbus Day in the United States and Thanksgiving Day in Canada (October 8th in 2007).
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