Back in August after the terror attack in Barcelona that killed 15 people and injured 131 more in the La Rambla downtown tourist area, I noted here at PJ Media that Islamic vehicle-ramming terror attacks were literally remaking the face of Europe and America.

Now with ISIS fanboy channels buzzing with calls for similar terror attacks during the Christmas season, European authorities are increasing security for holiday-related events across the continent.

If you're celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ this holiday season, they fantasize about killing you: https://t.co/U5XNjUSdNT #Christmas — PJ Media (@PJMedia_com) November 15, 2017

Here in the U.S., just a month after the terror attack in Manhattan that killed 8 and injured 11, and nearly a year after the vehicle-ramming attack at Ohio State University that injured 11, homeland security officials are also preparing for possible terror attacks.

But gift-wrapping traffic bollards and painting concrete barriers to look like Legos barely conceal the new grim reality.

In Germany, which saw an attack last year on the Berlin Christmas market that killed 12 and injured 40 by an illegal Tunisian immigrant who was scheduled for deportation and who was already known to intelligence officials, traffic bollards are going up everywhere.

Weihnachtsmarkt: Hier werden Terrorsperren liebevoll in Geschenkpapier eingewickelt https://t.co/rmZNRD7lv5 pic.twitter.com/cVwQ7kmS2V — WELT (@welt) November 24, 2017

Deutsche Welle reports:

Bochum authorities placed a string of 1.2 ton pellet bags in the downtown area to avert potential terror attacks ahead of the seasonal opening of the local Christmas market. On Thursday morning, however, the bags took on a holiday look, with the city’s official marketing service turning them into novelty Christmas presents. “For us it was very important to fit in those ugly barriers into the beautiful overall atmosphere,” said the head of Bochum Marketing Mario Schiefelbein. The move surprised both local residents and the police, as the service reportedly giftwrapped up all of the 20 bags overnight without forewarning […] Bochum is not the only city to put a bow on new security measures. In the Bavarian city of Augsburg, for example, authorities will use decorated trucks belonging to Christmas market stall owners as car barriers. Munich officials plan to block the streets with planters containing season-appropriate evergreen plants.

The first Christmas market in Berlin was opened earlier this month and is surrounded by concrete bollards and armed police:

And the site of the last year’s terror attack in Berlin is also receiving new decorations:

#VIDEO Concrete blocks erected at site of last year's Berlin Christmas Market attack ahead of this years market – https://t.co/GgJHZVpgGN pic.twitter.com/KysrYlvQov — Independent.ie (@Independent_ie) November 13, 2017

But some in Berlin are not entirely satisfied with the level of security preparations, believing they don’t go far enough:

Breitscheidplatz nicht wirkungsvoll gegen neuen Anschlag gesichert! https://t.co/apT6wLdhAo pic.twitter.com/wlFd89IXWr — BZ Berlin B.Z. (@bzberlin) November 21, 2017

In Hamburg, traffic bollards are being painted as Legos and stenciled with the hardly reassuring “more color, less fear” slogan:

"Mehr Farbe weniger Angst" – Unbekannte haben in #Hamburg die Betonpoller zum Schutz des Weihnachtsmarktes mit Farbe besprüht. (Foto: dpa) pic.twitter.com/VHWYdyU5MY — Berliner Zeitung (@berlinerzeitung) December 23, 2016

Nuremberg is ramping up security for its Christmas market, too:

Nuremberg Christmas market beefs up security for opening https://t.co/AfSsoAjhhP pic.twitter.com/TVce80pzoG — DW News (@dwnews) November 26, 2017

The UK saw two separate vehicle-ramming attacks this year in the heart of London, and authorities there are taking measures to increase security for holiday festivities.

Birmingham has one of the largest Christmas markets in the UK, and officials are trying to reassure citizens that they’re not reacting to any specific threat but just acting out of general concern for public safety.

Grey concrete bollards have been placed around Victoria Square in #Birmingham ahead of the German Market which opens on November 16. Anti-terror police are not reacting to a specific threat. pic.twitter.com/8V5o5JBT4V — Free Radio News (@freeradionews) October 26, 2017

Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police working in partnership for a safer Christmas in Birmingham. https://t.co/jHnz3ZlMLq pic.twitter.com/TYRXDbmnGy — Birmingham Updates (@BhamUpdates) October 26, 2017

Officials elsewhere are somewhat more candid:

Barriers and bollards are being installed at #Bath's #Christmas Market because of the terror threat https://t.co/uOvyS3JzEW pic.twitter.com/ywHuqkNO76 — ITV News WestCountry (@itvwestcountry) November 20, 2017

ITV reports: