Please note that seasonal edition items are released throughout the period of the Grand Gala, so some items might not be available at the start. Also, items that were released in previous Grand Galas are not guaranteed to return in the current or in a future Grand Gala.
Habitica NPCs dressed up for Winter Wonderland.
Winter Wonderland is one of the four Grand Galas. Each year, the Winter Wonderland begins in mid-December and ends on the final day of January (the 31st). It also includes a New Year's celebration, and Habitica's Birthday Bash.
The start of the event is marked by changes in NPC outfits throughout Habitica, as well as the release of one new outfit for each class and the re-release of all previous Winter Wonderland outfits. Over the course of the celebration there are additional releases as well: quests, some Magic Hatching Potions, and the winter skin and hair avatar customizations.
The New Year's celebration starts shortly before January 1st, and brings party hats, snowballs, and New Year's Day cards. Most NPCs also change costume to add the hats.
Lastly, Habitica's Birthday Bash is held on January 31st, and brings party robes and cake. The NPCs again change costume to use the robes or add birthday cake.
Current Status[]
❄️The next one is expected to start in late December, 2023.❄️
Announcement/Availability start dates for all past gala releases
| Gala Year | 2022-23 | 2021-22 | 2020-21 | 2019-20 | 2018-19 | 2017-18 | 2016-17 | 2015-16 | 2014-15 | 2013-14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Announcement & Class Gear | Dec 20 | Dec 21 | Dec 17 | Dec 19 | Dec 20 | Dec 19 | Dec 16 | Dec 18 | Dec 21 | Dec 20 |
| Quests b=bundle available |
Dec 20b | Jan 11b | Dec 17b | Dec 19b | Dec 20 | Dec 15b | Dec 16 | Dec 18 | Dec 25 | Dec 25 |
| Hatching Potions | Dec 20 | Dec 21 | Dec 22 | Dec 19 | Dec 21 | Dec 19 | Dec 15 | Dec 7 | -- | -- |
| New Year's Celebration | Dec 27 | Dec 29 | Dec 29 | Dec 31 | Dec 31 | Dec 30 | Dec 30 | Dec 30 | Dec 31 | Dec 31 |
| Party Hats | Dec 27 | Dec 30 | Dec 29 | Dec 31 | Dec 31 | Dec 30 | Dec 30 | Dec 30 | Dec 31 | Dec 31 |
| New Year's Cards | -- | Dec 29 | Dec 29 | Dec 31 | Dec 31 | Dec 30 | Dec 30 | Dec 30 | Dec 31 | Dec 31 |
| Snowballs | Dec 27 | Dec 29 | Dec 29 | Dec 31 | Dec 31 | Dec 30 | Dec 30 | Dec 30 | Dec 23 | Dec 31 |
| Skins | Jan 17 | Dec 21 | Jan 5 | Jan 14 | Jan 8 | Jan 4 | Jan 3 | Jan 8 | -- | -- |
| Hair | Jan 17 | Dec 21 | Jan 5 | Jan 14 | Jan 8 | Jan 4 | Jan 3 | Jan 8 | Dec 21 | Dec 20 |
| Party Robes & Cake | Jan 30 | Jan 31 | Jan 29 | Jan 31 | Jan 31 | Jan 31 | Jan 31 | Jan 29 | Jan 30 | Jan 30 |
Notes:
- 2022-23 New Year's Cards: Although availability was announced on Dec 31, due to a glitch they never became available.
- 2022-23 Hair Colors: Although formally announced & released later, they were temporarily available on December 31.
- 2022-23 Cake: Due to the extended 10th Birthday Bash celebration, cake was not distributed until February 8th.
News Announcement[]
The most recent Winter Wonderland began on December 20, 2022 with the announcement:
A wintry breeze is blowing in from the Stoïkalm Steppes, and the snow is gently drifting down over Habit City. The Winter Wonderland event has begun!
Since December 2015, each Winter Wonderland Grand Gala has gala has begun with the same announcement. The announcements prior to that are listed below.
| Event Year | Start Date | Announcement (if different) |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | Dec 21 | Winter has arrived, and the snow is gently drifting down over Habit City. Come celebrate with us! |
| 2013-14 | Dec 20 | It's time for HabitRPG's biggest event yet - Winter Wonderland! |
Special Class Gear[]
As soon as the Gala starts, new limited edition gold-purchasable sets of class gear becomes available in the Seasonal Shop, with the total cost of each set usually being 310-320 gold. Pieces from previous years are also available for the duration of the Gala, but they cost gems instead of gold.
Because the current sets are linked to linked to classes, players can only purchase the set belonging to their current class. It is possible to get up to three sets of the current year's sets by going through the rebirth process, but to get all four players must spend three gems to change class.
The gear from previous years is not class-limited, and generally costs one gem per piece with the exception of items which fill two slots (e.g. mage weapons), which cost two gems per piece.
2022-2023 Special Class Gear
- Warrior: Walrus (Art by: Vikte)
- Mage: Fairy Lights (Art by: QuartzFox)
- Healer: Cardinal (Art by: QuartzFox (weapon & shield) & Snickie (armor & head))
- Rogue: Ribbon (Art by: jjgame83)
Individual piece names & images are available on the Equipment Sets page.
- Warrior: Stocking Art by: QuartzFox
- Mage: Pomegranate Art by: Vikte
- Healer: Ice Crystal Art by: jjgame83
- Rogue: Fireworks Art by: Vikte
- Warrior: Ice-Fishing Art by: Vikte
- Mage: Winter Moon Art by: AinFach
- Healer: Arctic Explorer Art by: jjgame83
- Rogue: Holly and Ivy Art by: gawrone
- Warrior: Evergreen Warrior Art by: Vikte, Tyche_Alba & beffymaroo
- Mage: Carol of the Mage Art by: gawrone
- Healer: Winter Spice Healer Art by: Vikte
- Rogue: Lantern Rogue Art by: jjgame83
- Warrior: Blizzard Warrior Art by: LtCabel
- Mage: Pyrotechnic Mage Art by: TheSerendipity
- Healer: Winter Star Healer Art by: AnnDeLune
- Rogue: Poinsettia Rogue Art by: Vikte
- Warrior: Gift-Wrapped Warrior Art by: Vikte & beffymaroo
- Mage: Confetti Mage Art by: weeWitch
- Healer: Mistletoe Healer Art by: AnnDeLune
- Rogue: Reindeer Rogue Art by: Katy133
- Warrior: Ice Hockey Warrior Art by: Stefalupagus
- Mage: Winter Wolf Mage Art by: beffymaroo
- Healer: Sugar Plum Healer Art by: yayannabelle
- Rogue: Frosty Rogue Art by: Stefalupagus
- Warrior: Snow Day Warrior Art by: (Artist name needed)
- Mage: Snowboarding Sorcerer Art by: iobreese
- Healer: Festive Fairy Art by: (Artist name needed)
- Rogue: Cocoa Rogue Art by: Podcod
- Warrior: Gingerbread Warrior Art by: (Artist name needed)
- Mage: Mage of the North Art by: (Artist name needed)
- Healer: Soothing Skater Art by: (Artist name needed)
- Rogue: Icicle Drake Art by: (Artist name needed)
Magic Hatching Potions[]
Each year since 2015 there are been Magic Hatching Potions to give your pets a bit of holiday flair. Although there are currently six potions associated with Winter Wonderland, only three are released each year, so not every potion appears every year.
They are usually released between December 19th and December 22nd, and remain available for purchase until the end of January 31st. Purchased Magic Hatching Potions always stay in your inventory until use.
| Gala Year | Release date |  Aurora |
 Holly |
 Icy Snow |
 Peppermint |
 Stained Glass |
 Starry Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | Dec 20 | x | x | x | |||
| 2021-22 | Dec 21 | x | x | x | |||
| 2020-21 | Dec 22 | x | x | x | |||
| 2019-20 | Dec 19 | x | x | x | |||
| 2018-19 | Dec 21 | x | x | x | |||
| 2017-18 | Dec 19 | x | x | ||||
| 2016-17 | Dec 15 | x | x | ||||
| 2015-16 | Dec 7 | x |
Quests[]
There are two winter-themed quests that are released each year: the "Trapper Santa" boss quest, and the "Find the Cub" collection quest. They are normally available to purchase for 4 gems each via the Seasonal Shop, but some years they're released as part of the Winter Quest Bundle with the Penguin quest for only 7 gems! You can only get the bundle via the Quest Shop.
Note that you only need to do these quests once to get all the rewards and progress towards the Seasonal Specialist Achievement.
Avatar Customizations[]
Each year seasonal-edition Hair and Skin colors become available through the Avatar Customizations menu, usually in the first two weeks of January. All colors cost 2 gems each, or 5 gems for the full set. The set price continues to be available even after you have purchased some of the set.
The six seasonal-edition Wintery Hair Colors
Snowy, Peppermint, Holly Green, Aurora, Winter Star, and Festive.
The eight seasonal-edition Wintery Skin colors
Aurora, Dapper, Festive, Holly, Polar, Sugar, Snowy, and Winter Star.
The current hair and skin colors have been re-released every year since the 2014-2015 Winter Wonderland Grand Gala.
2013-2014 Limited Edition Holiday Hairstyles
New Year's Updates[]
On or shortly before New Year's Eve another celebration begins. It is heralded by more NPC costume changes, the distribution of party hats to all players, and the release of New Year's Cards.
Party Hats[]
A different party hat has been released each year at the start of the New Year's celebration ever since the very first one. They are an event item sequence, so each player receives them in the same order, one per year. Upon release they become available in the Rewards column of the Tasks page for 0 GP until January 31.
They do not provide any bonus to character stats and are not an advisable Battle Gear choice in comparison to other helmets. These hats appear under the "Special" category of the Equipment tab of the Inventory.
 2013-14 |
 2014-15 |
 2015-16 |
 2016-17 |
 2017-18 |
 2018-19 |
 2019-20 |
 2020-21 |
 2021-22 |
 2021-22 |
New Year's Cards[]
Once the New Year's celebration starts, New Year's Cards can be found in the Seasonal Shop until the end of January 1st. Players can send cards to their friends (and themselves) to wish them a Happy Habit New Year. All senders and recipients receive the stackable Auld Acquaintance achievement. Received cards appear in the player's Inventory, and clicking on them reveals a random seasonal message.
Snowballs[]
Once snowballs appear in the Seasonal Shop, players can purchase them for 15 GP and turn themselves or other players into snowfriends! Snowballs can only be purchased until the end of January 31st, but after a snowball is purchased they automatically stay in the player's inventory until they are used.
Birthday Bash Updates[]
January 31 is both the last day of the Winter Wonderland Grand Gala and the day that Habitica celebrates is Birthday Bash. The occasion is marked with party robes and cake.
Party Robes[]
A different party robe has been released each year for the Birthday Bash ever since the very first one. They are an event item sequence, so each player receives them in the same order, one per year. They can be released as early as January 29, and upon release they either become available in the Rewards column of the Tasks page for 0 GP until the end of January 31, or they get delivered directly to each player's inventory.
They do not provide any bonus to character stats and are not an advisable Battle Gear choice in comparison to other helmets. These hats appear under the "Special" category of the Equipment tab of the Inventory.
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
Cake[]
As part of the birthday festivities, food drops temporarily became cake. Cake has exactly the same effect on pets that regular food does.
NPC Costume Changes[]
Each year since December 2014 the NPCs have joined the celebration as soon as it began by donning their festive costumes (although the Mysterious Time Travelers always seem to overshoot the season or travel to the Southern Hemisphere...).
They change again at the start of the New Year's celebration, then one more time when the Birthday Bash begins. See the three tabs below for all current variants.
Bailey the Town Crier |
Matt Boch the Beast Master |
Ian the Quest Master | |
Daniel the Innkeeper | |
Justin the Guide |
Mysterious Time Travelers |
Alexander the Merchant | |
Lemoness the Seasonal Sorceress | |
Bailey the Town Crier |
Matt Boch the Beast Master |
Ian the Quest Master | |
Daniel the Innkeeper | |
Justin the Guide |
Mysterious Time Travelers |
Alexander the Merchant | |
Lemoness the Seasonal Sorceress | |
Bailey the Town Crier |
Matt Boch the Beast Master |
Ian the Quest Master | |
Daniel the Innkeeper | |
Justin the Guide |
Mysterious Time Travelers |
Alexander the Merchant | |
Lemoness the Seasonal Sorceress | |
2014-2015 One-Time Event[]
In 2014-2015 there was a one-time event involving a site-wide mystery and a world boss.
Mystery plot details
On December 9, there was news from the frozen north:
- Lemoness enters the Tavern with worrying news from the far north of Habitica. "Nobody's heard from the Stoïkalm Steppes for over a week," she says. "It's hard to imagine anything troubling the citizens there, since it's such a placid part of the continent... But just in case, maybe I should pay a visit." Sounds like a good plan to us!
On December 17, a chilling problem was discovered:
- Lemoness bursts into the Tavern, shaking icicles off her hat. "The Stoïkalm Steppes are completely abandoned!" she says, gulping the cup of tea that Daniel the Barkeep offers her. "No people milling about, no mounts and pets playing in the snow - and when I tried to fly closer, my dragon spooked and refused to land!"
- A cloaked figure in the corner steps into the fire light - SabreCat, a powerful adventurer from the north. "The Stoïkalm Steppes are the last home of many animals that have long since gone extinct elsewhere," he says. "The stoic Stoïkalmers would never flee their lands unless something was threatening their pets and mounts!"
- He turns to Lemoness. "I can speak the language of the northern beasts. I'll try to contact the roaming sabertooth prides to see if they know what happened." As he lopes off into the distance, a cold wind begins to blow.
On December 25, SabreCat returned:
- SabreCat's news is dire. "Most of my sabertooth friends have been impossible to reach, but one thing is clear: the prides have been disappearing from the Steppes. There are also reports that something drove the mammoths to early migration and disturbed the hibernation of the terrible lizards."
- He wraps his cloak around himself as another blast of frigid wind roars through the streets. An icy winter gale has been blowing from the north, rattling the window panes and setting the pets and mounts to trembling and howling.
- "I've never seen anything like it!" says Matt the Beast Master. "Something is terrifying all my animals - even the cacti, who are normally so mighty and brave! For something to frighten a cactus..." He shakes his head.
- The stress level in Habitica is mounting.
On January 3, Habiticans get more news after the new year:
- "After a fun-filled New Year's Eve, Habiticans wake to a rumbling that shakes them out of their Absurd Party Hats. Running to their windows reveals.... a stampede?
- "A thundering herd of mammoths charges past, sabertooths roar, and dinosaurs both feathery and scaly slither by at top speed. Habiticans stare open-mouthed, but before anyone can react, the stampede has swept through Habit City and is gone into the distance, leaving only pawprints in the snow, the howling wind, and some trampled New Year's cards.
- "Habiticans are advised to keep calm and not give in to stress during this confusing and difficult time. We've sent SabreCat after the frightened animals from the Stoïkalm Steppes, and he is working to calm them down so that we can bring them back to the safety of the Stables. We hope to have an explanation for this strangeness soon. In the meantime, keep all of your own pets and mounts indoors.
On January 8, the Abominable Stressbeast attacks:
- "The first thing we hear are the footsteps, slower and more thundering than the stampede. One by one, Habiticans look outside their doors, and words fail us.
- "We've all seen Stressbeasts before, of course - tiny vicious creatures that attack during difficult times. But this? This towers taller than the buildings, with paws that could crush a dragon with ease. Frost swings from its stinking fur, and as it roars, the icy blast rips the roofs off our houses. A monster of this magnitude has never been mentioned outside of distant legend.
- "Beware, Habiticans!" SabreCat cries. "Barricade yourselves indoors - this is the Abominable Stressbeast itself!"
- "That thing must be made of centuries of stress!" Kiwibot says, locking the Tavern door tightly and shuttering the windows.
- "The Stoïkalm Steppes," Lemoness says, face grim. "All this time, we thought they were placid and untroubled, but they must have been secretly hiding their stress somewhere. Over generations, it grew into this, and now it's broken free and attacked them - and us!"
- "There's only one way to drive away a Stressbeast, Abominable or otherwise, and that's to attack it with completed Dailies and To-Dos! Let's all band together and fight off this fearsome foe - but be sure not to slack on your tasks, or our undone Dailies may enrage it so much that it lashes out...
World Boss details
- Main article: The Abominable Stressbeast of the Stoïkalm Steppes
Abominable Stressbeast
A World Boss will never damage individual players or accounts in any way. Only active accounts who are not resting in the inn will have their incomplete Dailies tallied.