My 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter "gets" Christmas for the first time this year, and the excitement is building.

She decided that Christmas was finally coming last night when she saw the first real snow of the year. She started singing "Jingle Bells," and pointed out every set of storefront Christmas lights on our drive through town.

Then we drove by the famous "Christmas House," and, unplanned, stopped, got a closer look, and went inside. She was blown away, and I was blown away. It was magical, even for an adult, and a stick-with-you-for-a-lifetime experience for a child.

Reading RegisterCitizen.Com later that night, I came to this firm conclusion:

Torrington is the Christmas capital of Connecticut.

Sorry, Bethlehem.

But Torrington has the snow.

Torrington has the Christmas House, which to the unfamiliar, is the home of a private resident who has gone over-the-top nuts decorating the outside and inside of his home with Christmas light displays, Nativity scenes, moving Santa Claus figurines, rooms full of nutcrackers, snow globes, running train sets and more.

Torrington has Christmas Village, which opened for its 63rd year yesterday and features Santa and Mrs. Claus and live reindeer, and has delighted generations of children in Northwest Connecticut.

Torrington has the 1900 Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum, which is decorated in turn-of-the-century Christmas style and offers tours throughout the season.

Torrington has the world-class Nutmeg School of Ballet and its annual production of "The Nutcracker" at the historic and beautiful Warner Theatre.

The Warner Theatre has a bunch of other Christmas programs on the schedule also, including "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" and "A Very Merry Doo Wop Spectacular."

Torrington has the amazing "Christmas Angelicus" concert at Trinity Episcopal Church Dec. 19.

Plus, the downtown and Coe Memorial Park are decked out in lights.

Don't forget ice skating at Major Besse Field, and one of the best sledding hills around.

And shopping.

Torrington has Christmas shopping opportunities galore. There's East Main Street, and every big box store you could need, of course, but there are more small business shopping opportunities this year in our beautiful downtown.

Main Street mainstays such as Libby's Torrington Furniture, one of the best small toy stores in the state, Toy Jam, newcomers such as Barking Dog Guitar Traders and Bender Showrooms, and "shopping experiences" such as Brazen Betties, where you're bound to see something that presents a unique gift opportunity.

Come for Christmas Village and the Christmas House, enjoy the snowy scenery of the Litchfield Hills and check some hard-to-buy-for people off your shopping list.

And tell me if there's another community in Connecticut that has this much to offer for Christmas.