Saturday, November 2nd @ 7PM ET / 4PM PT
Hyrstmill, North Shroud (Balmung)
Welcome to our 6th Annual Día de los Muertos: An RP festival based on the historic Mexican holiday.
Experience several performances, food, and activity booths.
about Día de los Muertos
Día de los Muertos (also known as Day of the Dead) is a two-day holiday that reunites the living and dead. Families create ofrendas (offerings) to honor their departed family members that have passed. These altars are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers (cempasúchils), photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored. The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead as the departed souls hear their prayers, smell their foods, and join in the celebrations!Marigolds are believed to be the pathways that guide the spirits to their ofrendas. The flower’s vibrant colors and scent attract the departed souls, as they return to feast on their favorite foods. They are called “Flor de Muerto” (flower of the dead) and they symbolize the beauty and fragility of life. Throughout the event, you'll find marigolds scattered along the paths of Hyrstmill to lead you to activities and booths.Calaveras are ubiquitous during Day of the Dead. The skulls are often drawn with a smile as to laugh at death itself. They take many forms such as sugar candies, clay decorations, and most memorable: face painting. Sugar skulls are decorated and placed on ofrendas of loved ones. A Calavera, or sugar skull, is a decorative skulls made (usually by hand) from either sugar (called Alfeñiques) or clay.While the most recognizable aspects of Day of the Dead are the representations of skulls and skeletons, the tradition that holds the most meaning is the Ofrenda (offering). The Ofrenda is what the whole celebration is about; it’s a collection of offerings dedicated to the person being honored. A brightly colored Oilcloth covers the table and on top of that sits a collection of photographs and personal items of the departed person. The lower portion of the altar is where the offerings are placed, from traditional Mexican cuisine to other items that represent the honored person’s particular tastes.
More information about Día de los Muertos can be found here!
OOC: On behalf of Flourish FC, Honeystone, Verdant Cafe, The Still & Strings, and our wonderful friends: Thank you for celebrating this special day with us! So much love and hard work is put into this event and we are grateful to have brought it to the community for the last six years. See you next year!
Performance & Event Schedule
7:00pm-10:00pm ET: Event & Activities Begin
(Activities will end once performances begin.)
10:00pm-12:00am ET: Performances
12:00am ET: Event Ends
Performances will be in yell & shout chat! Be sure to enable those in your chat filters.
Battle effects will also be present throughout performances.
If your comfort allows, please turn them on for the full experience.
Promo Posters
hosts
Hani H'uitzl
La Muerte, She/Her
As the host of Día de los Muertos since its conception six turns ago, Hani works tirelessly to share significant traditions and culture from her distant homeland, Tural. With the help of her friends and fellow Flourish FC members, she faithfully recreates these traditions in the form of activities, food, games, music, and more. On this special day, she hopes to celebrate life and death with you.
Dane
La Catrina, She/Her
As the owner of La Ondina Aquarium and officer of Flourish FC, Dane always has her hands full. To keep herself sane, however, she enjoys performing across Eorzea to showcase her dancing. Unlike her previous Día de los Muertos performances, she will not sing of loss and remembrance. Instead, she will embrace loving one's self by moving forward.
Joseni H'uitzl
El Musico, He/Him
His love for his sister and fiancée allowed him the courage to return to the stage once more. Now, he's more dedicated to honoring his culture where he once did nothing but suppress his differences. He plans on mimicking his fathers music style for this eve.
Mariachi
Adrian Suzuka
They/Them
A rarity to the stages of Eorzea and coming from the distant Doma is Adrian. None know the passages of life and death like a priest of Suzaku. They are a phoenix rising from the ashes to celebrate this foreign holiday and come with a song of loss and the dawn.
Dugald Cristian Ernesto De la Cruz Walker
He/Him
Sif's definitively more haggard half who follows in her act in storytelling and charm. He's a man of a hundred stories with at least half being true- all told for the intent of memory, love, and joy for who walk these roads with us.
Erah'sae Zhwan
He/Him
A man known far and wide for, well, traveling far and wide. A beloved calico first and notorious postman second, Erah'sae aims only to deliver one parcel: a song to those who will listen on this special day.
Kaito Seibaku
All pronouns
Known best for their irreverent and raunchy sense of humor, Kaito takes to the stage once more to offer a more fitting tribute to those who have left us to return to the aetherial sea. Come on, baby...
Niamh Runlaeth
She/Her
From songstress to seamstress and now Turali tourist rep, Niamh brings her melodic voice to welcome back those who have departed and to remember them with affection. Her songs capture her home of Urqopacha and of her families melodies.
Red Lily
She/Her
A wearer of many fashionable hats- literally and figuratively- Lily is happy to be returning to the stage for a second turn to celebrate this beloved holiday with a song and an abundance of smiles.
Severine
She/Her
Although it's close to her old stomping grounds, Severine is not one to be found in the Shroud on the most normal of evenings. For just this one night her penchant for the superstitions of her youth won't dim her smile or quiet her voice.
Sif
She/Her
Dug's arguably more winsome half and a storied songstress who spins yarns over the strings of her oud guitar, blending Gyr Abanian and Turali musical styles to raise the spirits of both the living and our dear departed.
Ugin Zunith
He/Him
For his whole life, Ugin has held the spirits of the Shroud and its residents with reverence, and now once again, he is there to open the door for them to celebrate this wonderous day.
Vidhi Akanote
She/Her/They/Them
Hailing from both Thavnair and Tural, festivities celebrating life and death are not foreign to Vidhi, and now that she has become re-accustomed to the stage she plans to celebrate both with song and dance to inspire hope in others.
Activities & Booths
Altars
Piñatas
Face Painting
Sugar Skulls, Alebrijes
Lotería
Verdant Cafe
The Honeystone
The Still & Strings
♪. Stage
In addition to our booths and activities, we have two roaming vendors: a flower girl and food cart!
Roaming Vendors
Flower Girl
Hosted by Neoma Choe
Día de los Muertos wouldn't be nearly as evocative if it weren’t for the proliferated adornment that blossoming flowers like Cempasúchils provide to altars and to private and public spaces such as stores, governmental buildings and parks. They give off a distinctive sweet aroma that embraces everyone. The petals of this flower are laid out as walkways for the dead to find their way on earth so they may be reunited with their loved ones.
During the event, Neoma will be making her way through the venue to offer marigolds (Dahlia Head Corsages, Carnation Earrings, & Sweet Pea Necklaces) to those in attendance. Be sure to stop by and say hello!
La Elotera
Hosted by Hani H'uitzl
In addition to our food booths, we have a roaming food cart with plenty of authentic Mexican snacks.
Chicharrón Preparado & Rueditas
A rectangular fried chicharrón de harina, topped with chopped cabbage, diced tomatoes, sour cream, cotija cheese, sliced avocados, pickled pork rind slices, and hot sauce.
Mango Flower
Fresh mango cut into a shape of a flower. Served on a stick and drizzled with lime juice and Tajín.
Churros
A stick of fried dough covered in cinnamon and sugar.
(Optional Fillings: Guayaba, Chocolate, Caramel)
Esquites
Also known as elote en vaso (corn in a cup). A magical combination of corn, mayonnaise, butter, cotija cheese, and Hot Coeurl powder.
Activities
Altars
Hosted by Ugin Zunith & Adrian Suzuka
The most important aspect of Día de los Muertos; they guide the souls of lost loved ones and welcome them to the celebration. Most altars include photos, candles, food, flowers, or personal items that belonged to departed loved ones.
At this celebration, we have a designated area for altars to be placed for both children and adults. Altars for children include items suitable for them such as sweet treats, candies, drinks, or toys. Adult altars can include items such as alcoholic drinks and cigars.
Because altars are a collection of items dedicated to departed souls, it would suitable to visit last. The food, drinks, sugar skulls and alebrijes from this event are common gifts placed on altars since they represent a lost loved one.
Piñatas
Hosted by Sif (Sauced Songstress) & F'rihj Aire
Created by both Dane and Hani from papier-mâché, these piñatas are filled with an assortment of prizes: flowers, fruit, candies, and more! There are three types of piñatas: Bombfish, Cactuar, and Paissa.
Piñatas are made to break! Players are given a blunt weapon to try and break the piñata open to win the prizes. However, it’s not that easy! They are also blindfolded and spun around in a circle to become disoriented before they are able to swing.
This game functions off of /random rolls! Your roll determines whether you hit or miss the piñata. Players have three opportunities to swing.
0 - 333 = Miss!
334 - 999 = Hit!
Face Painting
Hosted by Niamh Akaruta & Rhel (Kaja Zerivani)
During Día de los Muertos, you often see faces painted to resemble skulls. For those unfamiliar, this might seem strange and even scary. However, the skull has a uniquely positive meaning: it provides opportunities for families and friends to gather, pray for, honor, celebrate, and remember friends and family members who have passed on.
In addition to the skull design, other elements are incorporated to create a beautiful and unique look. These include flowers, diamonds, spider webs, and other intricate designs & shapes. You can pick from the below themes or create your own! If you don't want your entire face painted, you can request smaller designs or animals.
Themes:
Cempasúchil, Fairy, Forest, Goth, Monarch Butterfly, Sea/Mermaid
Sugar Skulls
Hosted by Kaito Akaruta & Red Lily
Sugar Skulls represent the souls of departed loved ones and capture their happier memories rather than the sadness of them being gone. Decorated with vibrant embellishments, these skulls are not meant to be scary, but beautiful and extravagant.
Each Sugar Skull is a clean slate! Decorate it for fun or to honor a lost loved one. You can cover it in edible decorations to enjoy as a sweet treat, or add personal touches and display it at our altars. In addition to skulls, there are sugar guitars, marigolds, cactuars, moogles, and chocobos. This turn, all sugar creations have been crafted by Niamh.
Edible Materials:
Colorful Icing, Hard Candies, Soft Gelatin Candies, Fruit Jam
Non-Edible Materials:
Colored Beads and Gemstones, Glitter, Feathers, Colored Fabrics (Lace & Felt), Flowers (Artificial and Real)
Alebrijes
Hosted by Blaise Swiftwind
Wood carvings that depict animals, people, monsters, or imaginary creatures. They are painted with vibrant colors and intricate patterns to complement the theme of Day of the Dead. These carvings are not only a unique work of art, but may represent the spirit of a lost loved one. They can be kept and taken home or displayed at our Altars.
All carvings are handcrafted and signed by Blaise. While there are many crafted and on display at the event, he carves custom pieces upon request during the event. Payment is not needed, but tips are appreciated.
Available Alebrijes:
Bear, Cactuar, Carbuncle, Chocobo, Dodo, Dragon, Goobbue, Moogle, Paissa, Rabbit, Turtle, Wolf
Lotería
Hosted by Dane (Dane Escherra) & Ninifa Nifa
A unique spin on the traditional game of chance. At the start, each player will be dealt a card from the Lotería deck along with five darts. The objective is to pop three balloons on the board with the card's corresponding color. A bigger prize awaits those who manage to destroy all five balloons!
This game functions off of /random rolls! The first roll determines the card you draw. This doesn't affect overall gameplay, it's just fun! After the dealer has provided you with your card and darts, you have five opportunities to /random and pop the balloons! You may roll all five at once, or one at a time.
0 - 499 = Miss!
500 - 999 = Hit!
Vendors
Dulce Medianoche — Dark roast pour-over Turali coffee dripped on top of a layer of caramelized night milk to produce a sweet drink that will keep you up all night, ready to dance with the skeletons.Magdalena — A bundt cake coated with triple sec icing and flavoured with lemon zest, this sweetbread pairs perfectly with hot drinks at breakfast.Ofrenditas — Small cookies shaped like flowers, flavoured with matcha powder and coated with marigold-lemon frosting, these little treats look great on an altar, but we recommend eating them.Sunblessed Chocolatl — Dark, rich, and made for the discerning palate, this drink is made from a block of achiote-spiced kukuru dissolved in night milk, enriched even further with hints of cardamom and cinnamon. Atop this goes a froth of brown sugar milk foam to add just a bit more sweetness, and a dusting of golden aethersand adds a final elegant touch.Agua de Vida — Meant to be refreshing yet invigorating, thavnairian black tea leaves and orange rinds are blended with rose and marigold petals, along with a trace of vanilla bean, to produce a drink with all the sweetness and grace of life itself.Conchas de Calavera — A small loaf of sweet bread coated in sugar, patterned to look like a skull, this treat is bound to satisfy a hungry wraith on its wandering.Trago de los Muertos — Sweet but spiced, this drink is made from kukuru husks, cardamom pods, black pepper, and cinnamon shavings upon a base of black tea. Achiote syrup is available on request for those who prefer their afterlife to be hot.Sangre de la Catrina — Rich and red as blood, this iced tea is made from hibiscus flowers, lemon and grapefruit zest, and nopal juice, providing a tangy bite and lingering sweetness. Pairs well with wide brim hats and cocktail dresses.
Alcoholic Drinks
Still & Strings Fourth Promise Ale — Ice-cold bottled ale fresh from the Still & Strings brewery. This golden Turali-style ale could be regaled as royalty for how good it is. Slightly sweet, lightly malty, with a floral note on the back end. Served bottled, or ask for it in a michelada, where we mix it with lime juice and hot sauce for a sour-spicy punch to the face.Something Wicked — A specially blended sweet-and-spicy sangrita, a hearty pour of our mezcal, lime juice, and pineapple juice. Served with a rim of smoked salt and lime.The Cider Skull — Served in a souvenir skull-shaped glass, this special sangria is part cider, part brandy. We stir in cinnamon and star anise, and garnish with chunks of faerie apple.Rodeo Ranch Water — For when you want your mezcal delivered in a more... elegant way. Starting with a generous pour of our mezcal joven, we then top it off with a squeeze of lime, a dash of orange liqueur, and then fill the glass with sparkling water. Served over ice with a wedge of lime.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Horchata — Got the recipe straight from the locals. Rice and almonds are blended into a milky liquid, sweetened with raw sugar, and flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. We stir in a little bit of sweetened condensed milk before we serve it cold over ice - comes with a cinnamon stick, for fun.Agua Fresca Flight — Order a sampler of all four for you and your pals, or take just one of your favorites. Each of our agua fresca blends is made with fresh fruit, water, sugar, and lime juice. Choose from the following four flavors: Rolanberry, Papaya, Cucumber, or Pineapple.Chicha Morada — A gorgeously vibrant purple drink that anyone can enjoy. It's also really good for you, we promise. We made this by brewing together dried purple corn from Urqopacha with fresh pineapple, lime juice, sugar, cloves, and cinnamon. We let that simmer together until it turned a deep purple and the texture was juuuuuust right. Served over ice with a wedge of crisp green apple and pineapple.
Food
Pibil Walking Tacos — Turali folk may not like it, but tacos are hard to eat on the go. We took a bag of spicy chips and ripped it open on the side. Then, we top those chips with a hearty helping of cheese, onions, cilantro, pico de gallo, and spicy, meaty xibruq pibil. It's the pibil you can eat while you're enjoying the other attractions. (Hani please don't be mad at us.)Birria Grilled Tacos — A highly requested favorite. Beef stewed for hours in a spicy blended broth, so it's super tender and moist. We dip the whole taco in the strained consommé broth, griddle it in a corn tortilla with cheese, then top with salsa and onions. Served with a cup of consommé for dippin' and sippin'.Elote — Grilled corn on the cob covered in mayonnaise and dusted with both crumbly cotija cheese and chili-lime seasoning. Served on a stick to save your hands the mess.Pozole Verde — A warm, hearty hominy and pork soup made with a broth of tomatillos, cilantro, and jalapeño. Dusted with red chile powder to give it extra heat and served with fresh diced onion and cilantro to garnish.