Seeing the Lights : * Holiday displays dot neighborhoods in the Valley and environs like stars in a constellation.

For Joel and Marsha Frost, Christmas is more than hectic shopping days, trimming the tree and sharing a Yuletide meal with family and friends--it’s like a Broadway musical, staged with lots of hard work.

The Frosts’ show successfully opens with thousands of outdoor lights and huge figures, which transport their suburban home on Masterson Court in Saugus into a winter wonderland. About a dozen neighbors also participate in the holiday lighting tradition.

“This brings on a real feeling of togetherness in our area,” said Frost, who works alongside his wife and two children building plywood sleighs, candy canes and reindeer throughout the year. “When this began, about seven or eight years ago, there were only four of us. It’s really grown over the years.”

Although a couple of households have changed ownership, the Frosts and their neighbors hope new residents will take part in the Christmas and Hanukkah lighting tradition.

Besides thousands of colored lights and holiday figures, the area is often visited by antique car clubs and church carolers.

And last year, the block received several special visits from jolly old St. Nicholas himself, who passed out candy canes to young children.

“It takes quite a lot of effort to get ready,” said Frost, who begins stringing up lights on his property Thanksgiving Day. “But it’s such a wonderful sight when families come to look at what you’ve done.”

The feeling is definitely mutual.

For Ara and Paula Mouradian of Van Nuys and their two boys, Sean and Dustin, part of the Christmas spirit means a visit to the Hastings Ranch area in Pasadena.

“We look forward to it every year,” said Paula Mouradian. “I think it’s important to establish family traditions around the holidays. Not only is this one free, but it’s truly a spectacular sight. The kids literally freak with excitement. And every year, there’s something new.”

A peek at what some residents are up to:

* The neighborhood at the 21600 block of Masterson Court in Saugus can be found by going north on Bouquet Canyon Road, past Seco Canyon Road. Turn left on Centurion Way, right on Caraway Lane, and up a few blocks to Masterson Court.

* Sandy and Scott Des Marteau of Reseda have been decorating since mid-November with 30,000 lights, a mechanical Ferris wheel, Santa and his reindeer on the roof and a cast of characters on the lawn, including Barney, Aladdin and the Peanuts gang. The home is at 7619 Wilbur Ave.

* The Hastings Ranch residential area of Pasadena features about 40 blocks of brilliant displays, each with a different theme, from standard Santa Claus and reindeer fare to Teen-Age Mutant Ninja Turtles. Now in its 37th year, the lights will glow through Dec. 30. Take the Foothill Freeway east to the Sierra Madre Boulevard exit, and go north on Sierra Madre. Take a left onto Hastings Ranch Drive, where the decorated blocks begin. They are bounded by Riviera Drive on the west, Michillinda Avenue on the east and Denair Street at the north.

* Candy Cane Lane has been lighting up this portion of Woodland Hills for about 45 years. Among about four blocks, each has a different theme--Candy Cane Lane, Candlelight Lane, Bell Land and Church Lane. It isn’t difficult to find, since it’s just southeast of Pierce College, between Winnetka Avenue on the west, Corbin Avenue on the east, Oxnard Street on north and Martha Street on the south. Just follow the often-congested traffic.

* The Christmas display at the Bostrams in Sherman Oaks has become more elaborate all the time over the past 11 years. In her spare time, Sandra Bostram, a professor of piano at Cal State Northridge, says she enjoys planning and creating it. There are thousands of colorful lights, a gingerbread house, a jack-in-the-box, reindeer, a huge “see-through” box of presents, a candy tree, dancing and see-sawing bears. The Bostrams are at 4447 Atoll Ave.

* For a while, Monte Markowitz’s neighbors were beginning to follow his lead in putting up outdoor Christmas and Hanukkah decorations. But with neighbors moving out of the area, this year Markowitz will carry on the tradition single-handed. About 12,000 lights cover every inch of his home, steps, trees and bushes, with Santa Claus and candy canes, a Star of David and menorah. The home is at 23716 Arminta St., West Hills.

* Another West Hills home to visit is Tom and Hycy Connelly’s. Since this couple grew up around the Woodland Hills Candy Cane Lane, the tradition of going all out with Christmas lights is second nature. Here you’ll find about 2,000 lights, a Nativity scene, a train, fully decorated outdoor Christmas trees and a very large Santa. The home is at 7930 Bobbyboyar Ave.

* Stroll by Jim Avery’s home the day after Thanksgiving and you’ll most likely find father and sons James and David working side by side to put up their holiday displays. That’s the way it’s been for the past 20 years, with figures that include a traditional stable scene that’s more than five feet high, decorated pine trees, toy soldiers, a snowman, choir boys and girls, Santa Claus and, of course, lots of lights. The home is at 3216 N. Kenneth Road, Burbank.

* Nancy and Robert Major begin decorating the outside of their Lancaster home just a few days after Thanksgiving. Each year, thousands of visitors drive by to glimpse their massive lights display. There’s also a real tractor, a moving train, a Ferris wheel with Care Bears characters taking a ride, and a Disney ladder, with the characters decorating a tree. Santa Claus will make an appearance on weekends from 7 to 9 p.m. The home is at 42654 W. 35th St.