Advent starts early this year: November 27. Here in Germany, we are just days away from the building phase of Weimar’s delightful Christmas Market. It takes a surprisingly long time to lay out the boards, brackets, and electric wiring that transform this quiet town into a dazzling assemblage of festive kiosks. The kiosks’ proprietors will patiently staple strands of lights, pine branches, and glittery ornaments to decorate them. The ice-skating rink has to be assembled, too, and prepped so that it works flawlessly throughout this year’s long advent season.

Mid-November, a tall pine tree will be cut from the Thuringia mountains and carted to Weimar’s main square (Marktplatz). Cranes will lift it into place; workers will string endless white lights so that it glistens as the centerpiece of Weimar’s Advent celebration. The tree will remain lit until Epiphany (January 6). Some kiosks offering food and drink will stay assembled until then, too, since local people will continue to frequent the decorated square regularly, if not nightly. After all, European winters are dark and long, so everything bright and festive is welcome.

But most of the kiosks will close several days before Christmas Eve. Just as American buyers are gearing up for their final shopping frenzies, people here want to shut down and go home! Why? Because Christmas is not as commercial here. Merchants are sensible enough to want to be home, preparing for the intimate, traditional ways Germans celebrate Christmas Eve.

Back in June, Hank and I began planning for this year’s Advent Calendar. Driving across the West en route to a conference in California, we posted a call for new topics you’d like to see in this year’s calendar. Thank you for your fine suggestions! Some of them will soon be incorporated.

Earlier, in April, we had unveiled our newest publication, Journey through Advent—an illustrated volume of short essays devoted to music, art, and traditions of the season. We’re grateful to hear how many of you have enjoyed this book and plan to share copies with friends, family, and co-workers during this year’s Advent and Christmas seasons.

So, as Halloween pumpkins start to collapse on your front porches, and while you leaf through the luscious recipes you hope you’ll time to make for this year’s Thanksgiving dinner, know that Advent Watch is underway here in Weimar. For that matter, Advent markets will spring up in cities and towns across Europe, as well as the Caribbean, Central & South America, and in many US cities too. May our 2016 calendar, and Journey through Advent, be good companions for you as you journey through the season.