For those held dear, some cheer

Some people decorate houses for Christmas. Others decorate graveyards.

At cemeteries in California and beyond, families are adorning the tombs of loved ones with Santa statues, fake snow, pine trees, battery-powered blinking lights, Nativity scenes, candy canes and other holiday paraphernalia.

It’s a tradition that brings comfort to survivors -- and occasional headaches to cemetery operators.

Some burial grounds try to rein in the practice, limiting the size and types of decorations. But most allow “a lot of liberties during the holiday season,” said John Resich, president of the Cemetery & Mortuary Assn. of California.

Forest Lawn posts signs banning large trees and fencing around graves, but enforcement is lenient, “because we realize Christmas is a very emotional time,” said spokesman William Martin.

Roman Catholic cemeteries in Orange County, which normally outlaw anything but fresh flowers, also bend the rules around Christmas -- and Easter. “As long as it’s in good taste and in the spirit of the season, it’s OK,” said Michael Wesner, director of cemeteries for the Diocese of Orange.

Cemetery historian Katie Karrick, who publishes a newsletter called Tomb With a View, said the graveside decorations offer a way for families to include deceased loved ones in their holiday plans.

That’s exactly what motivated mourner Kacie Vo last week as she carefully arranged a display of “Nutcracker” statues and miniature stockings over the grave of her brother at Good Shepherd Cemetery in Huntington Beach.

“We want him to feel like he’s still a part of Christmas with us,” Vo said.

Another cemetery visitor, Lisa Shepherd, said she had been decorating her brother-in-law’s final resting place every December since 1978. Her elaborate displays include fiber-optic Christmas trees, tiny reindeer, gobs of tinsel and lights.

She swings by every two days to replace the batteries. And on Christmas, her entire family arrives and opens a few presents at the grave.

The custom of decorating tombs for Christmas began centuries ago, but has gained popularity in recent years, cemetery experts say.

Part of the uptick reflects the influence of immigrants from Latin America and the Middle East, said Robert Fells of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Assn.

Another possible factor is the rise of personalized gravestones, featuring laser-etched photos, epitaphs and illustrations. Holiday decor is an extension of that trend, Karrick said.

At Good Shepherd, the individualized Christmas decor includes photographs dangling from small evergreens, homemade wreaths, dress shoes, a wooden Grinch and other reminders of the dearly departed’s hobbies.

In Ohio, Karrick once saw a headstone draped with a hockey uniform, complete with skates and stick during the Christmas holidays.

Technology also comes into play. Solar-powered snowmen, lanterns and candles are now a few of the graveside holiday options.

Not every flourish passes muster with cemetery officials. A pyramid of beer cans was yanked from a Catholic graveyard in Orange County last year. “It didn’t go with our ‘spirit of Christmas’ rule,” Wesner said.

Archdiocese of Los Angeles cemeteries forbid battery-powered gadgets and anything made of glass, plastic or other easily breakable material. “One purpose is to maintain the sanctity and dignity of the cemetery,” said spokesman Tod Tamberg. “Another issue is safety.”

Some decorations fall apart in outdoor environments and pose hazards to maintenance crews and visitors, he explained.

“Innocent items can turn into dangerous flying projectiles when picked up by lawn mowers,” said Fells, the international cemetery association spokesman.

Perhaps the biggest downside to holiday decorations is cleanup. Few families bother to retrieve their knickknacks after Christmas, Wesner said.

“We end up removing about 75% of it ourselves,” he said. “It usually takes a couple of weeks.”

Unless, of course, a strong Santa Ana wind kicks in. “Then it takes care of itself,” Wesner said. “All we have to do is go to one end of the cemetery and pick everything up.”

roy.rivenburg@latimes.com