Draco Malfoy, one of the most recognisable characters from the Harry Potter series, has emerged as an unexpected mascot for the lunar new year in China, as fans embrace the villain-turned-icon for the year of the horse.
The trend stems from the Mandarin transliteration of Malfoy’s name, “mǎ ěr fú”. The first character, mǎ, means “horse”, while the final character, fú, translates to “fortune” or “blessing” — a symbol closely associated with lunar new year celebrations. Together, the name can be loosely interpreted as “horse fortune”, lending the character an auspicious meaning for the year ahead.
@meetpanda An unlikely Chinese New Year mascot has popped up in China this year — Draco Malfoy.His sudden popularity is thanks to his Chinese translation of his name Malfoy — Ma Er Fu, which contains the words for “horse” and “fortune” — ringing especially auspicious for the upcoming Year of the Horse.On Chinese social media, pictures show some users sticking couplets or upside down pictures of Malfoy’s signature smirk.Merchants on e-commerce site Taobao are also seizing on the trend, coming up with stickers and magnets featuring the Harry Potter character.#ChinaTravel #China #harrypotter#chinesenewyear#dracomalfoy ♬ 原声 – MeetPanda
The wordplay has ignited a surge of memes, fan art, decorations and themed merchandise across Chinese social media. Images of a young Draco Malfoy, portrayed by English actor Tom Felton, have appeared on red lunar new year posters, often showing him smiling or riding cartoon horses. The designs have been spotted in homes, offices and shopping malls across the country.
Felton appears to have taken note of the phenomenon. On Tuesday, the 38-year-old actor reposted on his Instagram story an image of his face featured on a red banner displayed in a Chinese shopping mall. The Mandarin slogan on the banner read: “Magical awakening that attracts abundant wealth.”
@cnn Draco Malfoy, the icy blond antagonist from the Harry Potter series, has taken on an unlikely new role in China: a symbol of good fortune in the run-up to the Lunar New Year, which ushers in the Year of the Horse. CNN’s Mike Valerio reports on how a once-reviled wizard became a holiday icon. #CNN #News #DracoMalfoy #HarryPotter #China ♬ original sound – CNN
The wave of “Malfoy mania” comes as millions in China prepare for the lunar new year, which begins later this month. Since Chinese-language editions of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series were launched in 2000, around 200 million copies have been sold in the country, according to CGTN.
As reported in the Guardian, interest in the franchise remains strong. Last year, Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans to build a Harry Potter studio tour in Shanghai, described as the first of its kind in China. The 53,000-square-metre attraction, larger than existing studio tours in London and Tokyo, is expected to open in 2027.
