This weekend is the fourth one since Christmas, and it’s finally time ….

OK, who will take down their holiday decorations first? … that guy down the street with the sagging light strings or the folks at Almaden Fashion Plaza? We can still see them even if you don’t turn on the electricity.

We’re just wondering which light displays will stay lit for all Twelve Days of Christmas (through January 6, also considered to be the Epiphany).

Check out our recommended list of Christmas and Holiday Lights, and feel free to let us know whose lights are still on … and still worth seeing!

It’s probably not possible to write a comprehensive guide to the Holiday Lights on Willow Glen, but with a little help from our readers … who knows?

During December, we’re hosting a special forum just to share the magic of the Christmas and Holiday Lights traditions that help make Willow Glen an excellent place to live. Scroll through the “Holiday Lights” category on WGx (which will be updated periodically), and mark your street map for the must-see displays across the neighborhood.

Now, we need your help! Please send us an email if you’ve seen a display that should be listed here, or just add your comment to this or any other similar post. Send us pictures for sharing, too! We’d prefer not to publish actual addresses; please just tell us the name of the street and the approximate location. And, don’t be shy … tell us about your own house, too!

Might as well start with some spectacular individual efforts in the name of Christmas. Here’s your list.

Whether you call wish others “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas” or something in between or beyond, there is no denying the original reason for the season.

The North Pole: One of the larger displays in town is also intended to raise money for charity, complete with singing Santas, dancing reindeer, and collection boxes. The residents raise money for the “Make a Wish Foundation,” hoping to surpass last year’s $6,000 in donations. Santa visits are planned, too! … Robsheal & Cherry, east of Hicks.

Pine Avenue Mansions: It’s nice when residents of the larger WG mansions atake some pride in their “responsibility” by decorating for Christmas. Two neighbors along busy Pine Avenue have lit up their large homes with classic lights, including highlighting some pretty landscaping … northside of Pine Avenue, east of Lupton.

Flashing Animation: Stop and take a look at this one, because it’s subtle. Flashing lights give the impression of motion from the holiday train and a glimmering Frosty … Malone, west of Newport.

Is your tree more striking than the lights on your house? This is the list for you.

Willow Glen finds a lot of its charm from the incredible trees that line almost every block … and we’re not just talking about those traditional Christmas yard trees. It makes perfect sense that some of the most impressive holiday displays incorporate our trees with light wraps, uniquely sized ornaments, and colorful bulbs.

Blue & White Christmas: This big tree is differwent from the rest. Residents have selected an array of blue and white lights for their large front yard tree, casting a pleasant glow across the street. It’s not snowing much this year in California, but this tree makes you dream of a white holiday … Curtner & Hicks.

Slow Down to See It: The residents decorate this big pine tree in front of their house with hundreds of lights and lots of big ornaments. It’s on a busy street, so don’t blink … Curtner & Hicks.

Tropical Christmas: All year long, one house on Juanita boasts the most stately palm tree in all of Willow Glen, and each December, they light up each palm frond with its own string. Impressive! … Juanita, north of Pine (just south of Willow Glen Way).

Genie Lift: With a tall tree on a very visible corner, the residents of this house put on a light show each December; it’s also fun to watch the installation and clean-up if your timing is right. With its location along a major neighborhood gateway, this tree could give the WG Elementary tree some competition … Bird at Minnesota.

Speaking of which … no, you’re not seeing things. It’s worth noting in this section that the big tree downtown (technically on the elementary school campus) is a different tree than has been lit in the past.

This section lists holiday displays that are equally impressive during the daytime.

Obviously, electric lights play a lesser role during the day, and fortunately, people can still enjoy the holidays while the sun is up! Special credit is awarded to artistic displays using handmade creations or natural features.

Tie a Red Ribbon: Some residents of Clark Way have added a nice twist to the nieghborhood yard tree tradition, by wrapping huge red ribbons around the huge old trees on their block. No lights, just ribbons. … on Clark Way, west of Lincoln.

This post includes streets and entire blocks whose energy (both creative and electrical) have resulted the highest “lights per square foot” ratios you can find.

In general, these areas are more frequently found in the northern part of Willow Glen, where the neighbors on thse streets are more likely to have been in their homes for decades. Extra points are given for obvious collaborations and themes, especially when using the yard trees for maximum impact.

Padres Court. Reader (and resident) Mark Bowlby tells us that “the street is pretty well lit up as well with oversized animals courtesy of Butler Amusements,” which should be worth checking out. He also sent a picture of his house, which will be posted soon! … south of Minnesota on Delmas/Padres (map).

Glenn Avenue. Nothing particularly fancy or overwheling on this street, just a nice consistent presentation along its entire length … south of Willow (west of Lincoln).

Ellen Avenue. It’s nice to see a street on the southern edge of town give the northerners a run for their money. The southern-most block of Ellen has many impressive light displays and some great artistic merit overall … south of Malone (east of Lincoln).

And finally, a list of displays that don’t fit in on any other lists, but are still worth a visit…

Inflatables might get their own category next year, but for the moment they are still an emerging trend. Occassionally a collection of unusual colors catches your eye, and how exactly do you describe the Glen Eyrie display? You’ve just got see these …

Best In Show: Residents on Glen Eyrie have clearly stolen the show this year, with their multi-house reindeer and sleigh display. Neighbors made these huge works of art using wood and chicken wire for the frames and landscape fabric to cover them. They are spectacular … on Glen Eyrie, north of Willow Street Park.

The Snow Globes: Three or four large inflatables grab your attention on this display, including a large snow globe and several other glowing characters … on Minnesota (east of Settle); you’ll want to be driving westbound.

Snow in Willow Glen: At least two different houses have been spotted with snow flakes cascading down their walls, courtesy of fancy stage lighting effects… Lovoi at Malone (east of Lincoln); and look on Meredith further north.

Fluorescence: It’s not entirely clear that this is purely a holiday display, but the multi-colored fluorescent bulbs on this house do present an interesting twist on the colors of the holiday… on Camino Ramon (south of Willow).

Disney Inflatables: Two houses on one block have gathered an impressive collection of inflatable characters, including the Cat in the Hat, Tigger and the rest of Pooh’s Friends, and some other Disney notables… on Malone (east of Cottle)

Don’tbother driving down these streets; they are abnormally darkfor this time of year.

We thought about calling this post by the obvious “Bah Humbug” title, but we’d like to assume that residents on these streets are collectively making an effort to save electricity. Or, perhaps they are putting lights up sometime tomorrow?

High School Humbug? The western block of Dry Creek actually becomes Cherry as it turns south around the high school. The high schoolers don’t get much of a light show, unfortunately.

Water & Electricity Don’t Mix: Creek Drive meanders around the western edge of Willow Glen, crossing such traditionally lit up streets as Willow Glen Way and Pine. The northern blocks of Creek are mostly dark, however.

Blown Circuits? There are so many lights in the northern, older part of the nieghborhood. Perhaps the circuits blew just before folks on Coolidge or Mildred could put up their lights.

Construction & Rezoning: Along with all of the rezoning to allow more units per acre than were originally built along Curtiss Avenue, perhaps the city has also limited the holiday lights per lot. The northern blocks are rather dim.