Z-Man Games has announced the fourth quarter release of an English language version of Carcassonne: Winter Edition.

If it remains true to the German version, the Winter Edition will feature snow covered versions of the original 72 tiles from the base Carcassonne game, as well as 12 additional ‘local animals’ tiles that are configured like expansion tiles from Inns and Cathedrals and Traders and Builders sets but feature snow cover and do not have special features. 

Also of interest, in the post on their Facebook page, Z-man said the game will allow players to "enlist the help of the Gingerbread Man who will help you through the cold winter if you use him wisely."  In the German version, the Gingerbread Man was only available as part of an expansion set, Carcassonne: Winter-Edition: Der Lebkuchenmann, but is a valuable piece, since whenever one of the six tiles from this expansion is placed, the Gingerbread Man is moved, leaving gifts for the knights of the city he just left.