Fake Mourner

One may think that a professional mourner is only hired by those who passed without leaving any friends or loved ones behind. However, it’s not only the socially isolated or unpopular that opt for paid mourning. The profession actually started in ancient times and has even been mentioned in the Bible.

Professional mourners have been attending Chinese funerals since the year 756, but the practice has evolved over time. The modern professional mourner is an actor of sorts who increases the number of guests at the funeral while interacting with guests to help them deal with grief. Paid mourners usually attend the procession without letting anyone know they’re hired.