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Draco Malfoy emerges as unlikely Lunar New Year symbol
Chinese households have embraced a surprising new decoration for the Year of the Horse: images of Harry Potter villain Draco Malfoy, whose Chinese-translated name carries auspicious meanings.
Why Malfoy?
The character's Chinese name, Ma-er-fu, phonetically blends the words for "horse" and "fortune," aligning perfectly with the 2026 Lunar New Year's zodiac animal. The coincidence has sparked a festive craze, with e-commerce platforms selling Malfoy-themed decorations ahead of the holiday.
Harry Potter's enduring popularity in China
The Harry Potter franchise has a massive following in China, where hundreds of millions of books have been sold. A 2020 re-release of the first film grossed over 90 million yuan ($13.6 million) in just three days, underscoring the series' cultural impact.
Traditional decorations get a magical twist
During Lunar New Year, Chinese families typically adorn their homes with couplets-pairs of poetic verses symbolizing health and prosperity-and fuzi, red squares bearing the Chinese character for "fortune." Many hang fuzi upside down, as the word for "upside down" sounds like "arrival," signifying luck's arrival.
This year, some social media users have replaced traditional designs with Malfoy's smirking face, sharing images with captions like "Share this for good fortune."
E-commerce platforms capitalize on the trend
Merchants on Taobao and other sites have swiftly introduced Malfoy-themed stickers, magnets, and prints. One Weibo user described the fusion as "an oriental new year with magical elements," while another referenced Felix Felicis, the series' "liquid luck" potion, in jest.
Felton's reaction fuels fan excitement
Actor Tom Felton, who played Malfoy, amplified the trend by resharing an Instagram story about his character's new role as a Lunar New Year symbol. His post ignited further enthusiasm among Chinese fans, who flooded social media with praise under the hashtag "Malfoy himself is 100% hilarious."
Future of the franchise in China
The wizardry world's appeal shows no signs of waning. Warner Bros. Discovery has announced plans to open the largest Making of Harry Potter studio tour in Shanghai by 2027, cementing the series' place in Chinese pop culture.
