Tradition, electricity power Christmas village

The Christmas Village started with just one card table. Now, it takes 18. (Neal Augenstein/WTOP)
The Christmas village takes two weeks to set up. (Neal Augenstein/WTOP)
It takes 100 power adapters to run the Christmas Village. (Neal Augenstein/WTOP)
The Christmas village started with just one card table. Now, it takes 18. (Neal Augenstein/WTOP)
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Neal Augenstein, wtop.com

HAMILTON, Va. — There’s still more than a month until Dec. 25, but its already Christmas Day in Hamilton, Va. — at least in Jeff and Cassie Lauterette’s sun room.

For the past 20 years the couple has erected a miniature Christmas village in their home.

What once filled a single card table now takes 18 card tables.

“This year we had to move it into its own room, it’s gotten so big,” says Jeff.

Hundreds of intricately painted figurines, standing near lifelike buildings, with an O gauge electric train running through snowy hills brings the village alive.

Check out the village below:

“Each year we have an open house, to let the neighbors see it,” says Jeff.

“It’s a chance to sit, talk and get away from everyday life.”

The project takes two weeks to set up, “but only a half hour to put the whole thing away.”

“People just love the holiday spirit,” says Jeff.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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