If you are part of the Chinese community around the world, then you should be aware that the annual Qing Ming or Chinese All Soul’s Day is an important day to remember the dead.
Every year, the Chinese community will pay their respects to the graves of loved ones and ancestors by cleaning and sweeping the burial places, putting flowers and generally a day of remembering the dead.
But nowadays, our busy modern lives don’t leave much time for us and we frequently outsource many of our activities to other people. Apparently the Star reported that you can even outsource your mourning service for a fee, if you are inclined to do so.
In fact, in these recent years, there are several businesses in China who offers services for the busy people who are not able to make it to their loved ones tombs to perform their Qing Ming duties. You can even request the mourners-for-hire to cry convincingly during the ceremony!
The price packages generally start from 668 yuan (RM429) and 5,200 yuan (RM3,340), and the younger generation have no qualms making use of these packages to fulfill their duty.
However, the older generation disapproves of this practice and said that paying strangers instead of personally making the effort to visit the graves of loved ones is practically blasphemy.
I guess everyone’s got their own method of performing their Qing Ming duties!
Also read: Ridiculous Malaysian Caught Dumping Flood Water to the Next Grave During Qing Ming