Nov = Calendrier de l'Advent

The French are early birds when it comes to planning for Christmas.

Or maybe all of Europe starts polishing their wooden shoes for St. Nick as soon as they get back from the summer holidays?

I know, I know. Advent calendars begin on December 1 not in November.
 

But October and November is the time to plan and stock up to fill all those 24 windows in France.
 

While we're still thinking about what kind of cranberry sauce to make.
 

The French are plotting out their bonbons for the advent calendars.
 

When I waltzed into Le Bonbon au Palais in October, thinking only of caramels au beurre sale, two school teachers were stocking up on little packets of candy to hide in the calendar windows. I asked Georges if he carries the calendars and he said, Oh no, no. I just have the candies.
 

At La Mere de Famille you can buy an adorable cardboard house.
 

Very charming indeed - it's a copy of the old shop.
 

And it comes already filled with their candies.
 

But most Advent calendars are DIY. You pick the bonbons to go in the windows.
 

There are tons of them, if you're in need, at W.H.Smith Bookstore at 248, rue de Rivoli along with English poppers and paper hats.
 

I didn't know Richard Sellmar Verlag in Germany makes over a million different designs every year. Wow
 

I would imagine for those of us with self-control issues, an advent calendar would come in handy. Eating just one candy a day for 24 days would be a trial by fire of sorts, but the habit would be set and you could survive the holidays without gaining an ounce. Ha Ha
 

Baccarat would like you to put their mini crystal tree decorations in your calendar windows perhaps.
 

Last night window gazing at the Madeleine, I spotted Kaspia caviar still dithering over what to put in their Christmas windows.
 

I bravely went into fancy-pants Fauchon and asked (in English to be safe) if they carry any advent calendars. The saleswoman raised her eyebrows. I could see she was thinking poor thing. Doesn't she know any better? So no, don't go looking for advent calendars filled or unfilled in Fauchon.
 

In Germany many town halls deck themselves out as life size advent calendars.
 

Just by chance department store BHV looks like a life-size Advent calendar with Christmas trees in their cupola doesn't it?

Do you keep an advent calendar? Is it for yourself or the little ones? Or are you too busy with cranberry thoughts to think about such things?