Chinese people expressed their anger after police forced Halloween revellers to remove their costumes and even arrested some of them. However, they found this intolerant of the Chinese government, which believed the spooky outfits sent a political message, particularly targeting Chinese President Xi Jinping. The agitated Chinese people vented their anger on social media despite strict internet censorship in China.
While some saw the Halloween crackdown as part of an anti-West campaign, many cited last year’s celebrations as a major reason, as Halloween costumes were perceived to mock Xi’s failed policies and COVID mismanagement.
Interestingly, last year, the Shanghai government encouraged the Halloween celebrations, calling them proof of the city’s “cultural tolerance” and the “wisdom of its urban managers.”
However, concerns over people using their outfits to send subtle messages of dissent alarmed the government, forcing it to ban Halloween this time.
Even dressing as a famous cartoon character, Winnie the Pooh, could be seen mocking Xi. He looks a little like him. China even banned a film on the cartoon after people drew comparisons to Xi. So Halloween could not remain an exception.
“Winnie the Pooh-looking… cancelled the drag Halloween event in my city, and the police have been so strict during Halloween, especially in Shanghai because people were protesting through their costumes last year,” said Shanghai resident Jiang Zengni.
People who dressed like Buddha, Donald Trump, and Batman were detained or arrested.
“Dressing like Spiderman, a surveillance camera, or Winnie the Pooh could get the Chinese in horrific trouble. Why? Because Xi hates Western influence. He hates public gatherings. In China, you are not free to criticise any aspect of Chinese society,” said a social media user named Yasmina.
An activist named Rei Xia questioned the police actions, such as barricading and arresting people to stop Halloween celebrations.
“A week ago, officials ordered Shanghai businesses to ban costumes and decorations in key districts, with enforced removal for violators. Schools cautioned students against celebrating Halloween due to Foreign Influence, and keywords were censored online,” she said.
Chinese ridiculed police authorities for the absurd action that stripped them of joy and enjoyment. “It’s like we are cows or horses, they just want us to work and have babies, we should never have any fun,” said a Chinese person who wished not to be named.
Chinese social media platforms were full of messages that slammed the government.
“Even in relatively open Shanghai, the scale of freedom is constantly shrinking,” said one user on Weibo.
One widely forwarded commentary on WeChat said Halloween offers young people the opportunity to laugh with abandon and display what is left of their creativity and imagination. “Even that is now gradually becoming a luxury,” it added.
Author Fang Wie said the crackdown was a stark reminder of how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) stifled individual expression and joy.
“The CCP is cracking down on Halloween in Shanghai like it’s a National Emergency! Those simply seeking to celebrate are treated as criminals. It’s not just about Halloween; it’s about controlling every aspect of life. When will the people say enough is enough?” Fang said.
Chinese authorities have warned people, educational institutes, and offices against celebrating Halloween this year.
“All cosplaying is prohibited, and no Halloween make-up will be permitted,” read a police notice.
People said Halloween scared the CCP. China scholar Resham said, “Shanghai Halloween parades always bring chills to the CCP. This year, Shanghai authorities were instructed to arrest anyone wearing an anti-Xi or anti-China costume.”
For many people, Halloween is a platform to unwind and express themselves, which the CCP sees as dissent. Maya Wang, Associate China Director at Human Rights Watch, said the youth celebrating Halloween can be perceived as a youth-driven silent revolution.
“What’s significant about this Halloween crackdown is the quiet revolution among young people in some of China’s cities: they want to live with joy, inclusiveness and freedom. In other words, diametrically opposed to the heaviness of the CCP,” she said.
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