Lilith
09-02-2006, 08:21 AM
(gg)
BEIJING (AFP) - China may be giving striptease
funerals the last rites after officials arrested five
people and ordered an end to the practise, state media
said.
Strip shows have been commonly used to attract more
mourners to funerals, as villagers believe a crowded
send-off brings more honor to the deceased, Xinhua
news agency said.
But police took action after state television exposed
the "obscene performances" at a funeral in Donghai
county, Jiangsu province, with 200 people including
children in attendance, it said.
"When the performance reached a climax, two performers
started stripping and to show their charm. They even
dragged audiences onto the stage to join them,"
Beijing News said, citing the television report.
Wealthier families in villages often employ two
troupes of performers to try to draw a crowd at the
funerals of their loved ones.
After the television report, the local government
quickly issued an order to stop the practice and
demanded that village committees have to report
details of each funeral plan within 12 hours after a
villager dies.
A hotline was also set up for residents to report on
"funeral misdeeds," it said. The funeral striptease is
also a popular custom in parts of Taiwan.
BEIJING (AFP) - China may be giving striptease
funerals the last rites after officials arrested five
people and ordered an end to the practise, state media
said.
Strip shows have been commonly used to attract more
mourners to funerals, as villagers believe a crowded
send-off brings more honor to the deceased, Xinhua
news agency said.
But police took action after state television exposed
the "obscene performances" at a funeral in Donghai
county, Jiangsu province, with 200 people including
children in attendance, it said.
"When the performance reached a climax, two performers
started stripping and to show their charm. They even
dragged audiences onto the stage to join them,"
Beijing News said, citing the television report.
Wealthier families in villages often employ two
troupes of performers to try to draw a crowd at the
funerals of their loved ones.
After the television report, the local government
quickly issued an order to stop the practice and
demanded that village committees have to report
details of each funeral plan within 12 hours after a
villager dies.
A hotline was also set up for residents to report on
"funeral misdeeds," it said. The funeral striptease is
also a popular custom in parts of Taiwan.