There used to twinkling lights along the meridian of Stevens Creek Boulevard all the way to Monte Vista and along Highway 9.

Tall, lit-up candy canes and lights used to sit atop poles in the Crossroads Shopping Center, and the big oak tree at The Oaks Shopping Center was usually festooned with lights.

But the owners of those centers are the ones who provide their decorations, and it seems only few businesses put them up this year.

Cupertino Village has its Christmas lights up. Peter Pau of Sandhill Properties, the owners of the shopping center, says they tried putting up a Christmas tree last year but the tenants said it didn't work because it blocked traffic, and they also tried a Santa outside last year, but it was too cold, and when it rained everyone had to run inside. So this year they have the lights, carolers and banners.

The popular Blue Pheasant kept up its tradition of putting lights on the tree outside. Peter Rasmussen, owner of the restaurant, says they've never really done much outside; inside is where all the Christmas charm is, and the restaurant is still having lots of Christmas parties. Paul and Eddie's Monta Vista is decorated inside too.

But it's the city that's in charge of lighting the streets. And it looks like the city just put out banners this year.

Rick Kitson, the city's public information officer--who by the way has strung lights around his house--said there used to be lights around city hall during the holidays. But those came down a couple of years ago when the city had to do some repairs on the building. That was during the energy crisis when the state of California was having electrical brown outs and blackouts. Kitson says the city intentionally didn't put the lights back up in order to save money.

And according to Mayor Sandy James, the lights along the meridians of the streets haven't gone up the last couple of years either because of budget constraints and a lack of man power. She says the city hasn't been filling open positions as a way to save money.

But she says the city, in partnership with the Cypress Hotel and Park Place restaurant, began a new tradition this year, Holiday at Cali Mill Plaza, when she and Ron Cali lit the tree atop the Park Place office building.

This tree is an old Cupertino tradition.

Perching a tree atop a tall building at that corner started when the old Cali Mill was there. When the Cali family sold the property, some say, the contract with the buyer stated that whoever bought the land must continue the Christmas tree tradition. So when Apple was in the Park Place office building there, it put a Christmas tree on its rooftop for years. Then, for a short time the Cypress Hotel took over the tradition, putting a tree on its roof, and now the tree is back on top of the old Park Place office building.

James says the city is working on a new holiday tradition at the plaza for next year and has set up a committee that includes the man who started San Jose's Christmas in the Park.

But what about the homes in Cupertino?

For this story, the Cupertino Courier went out in search of residential lights. We rode up and down neighborhood streets for almost two hours.

There was a decorated house here and there, and once in a great while, we stumbled on a home festooned with over-the-top holiday decorations; but that was rare.

However, since we took our drive, we've learned there is one area, at the edge of town where the lights are fantastic.

It's a neighborhood in the new development off of Cristo Rey Drive near the Gate of Heaven Cemetery. To the right of the round about there are whole streets decorated. And to the left of the roundabout is one home that's over the top, with a big old choo choo train that runs.

So here to give you a sense of the holiday spirit, are some pictures of what we found.

And for those homes we missed, we apologize.