The Lunar New Year celebrations are taking an unexpected turn this year, with a face many associate with villainy – Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter franchise – becoming an unlikely symbol of good fortune in China. As the country prepares to welcome the Year of the Horse on , images of the platinum-blond wizard are appearing on festive decorations, merchandise and across social media.
The surge in Malfoy’s popularity isn’t due to a renewed interest in the Dark Arts, but rather a clever linguistic coincidence. His Chinese name, “马尔福” (mǎ ěr fú), contains characters that translate to “horse” (马 – mǎ) and “fortune” (福 – fú). This fortuitous combination makes him an auspicious figure for the Year of the Horse, resonating with the traditional desire for prosperity and good luck.
The trend began gaining momentum online, with social media users sharing images of Malfoy posters and even digitally inserting his likeness into traditional Lunar New Year couplets – auspicious writings typically displayed on doors to herald health and prosperity. One user on the Chinese social media platform Rednote succinctly captured the sentiment: “Year of the Horse’s blessing, so stick on a Malfoy.” The phenomenon has since expanded beyond the digital realm, with reports of large-scale Malfoy imagery adorning shopping malls in Henan province.
Merchants on the e-commerce platform Taobao are capitalizing on the trend, offering a range of Malfoy-themed merchandise, including stickers and magnets. A set of four Malfoy posters can be purchased for just 11 yuan (approximately £1.20), demonstrating the accessibility of this unexpected cultural phenomenon. The character’s face is now prominently featured on phone covers and other festive decor.
This isn’t simply a fleeting internet meme; it reflects the enduring popularity of the Harry Potter franchise in China. Despite strict quotas on foreign films and a growing preference for domestic content, the Wizarding World continues to hold a significant place in the country’s cultural landscape. The eight Harry Potter films were re-released in Chinese cinemas in 2024, demonstrating continued demand. This popularity is further evidenced by Warner Bros.’ plans to develop a “Harry Potter Studio Tour” in Shanghai, in partnership with Chinese group Jinjiang International, announced last year.
The franchise’s presence extends to physical attractions as well, with “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” being a key component of the Universal Studios theme park in Beijing. The appeal is so strong that actor Tom Felton, who famously portrayed Draco Malfoy in the films, recently reprised his role on Broadway in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, becoming the first cast member from the original film series to do so.
The Malfoy phenomenon also speaks to the Chinese tradition of incorporating puns and wordplay into Lunar New Year celebrations. Alongside traditional motifs like fish (symbolizing abundance) and red lanterns, Malfoy’s image offers a modern, playful twist. The practice of hanging “fuzi” – red square papers printed with the Chinese word for prosperity – upside down, symbolizing luck arriving, finds a parallel in the embrace of Malfoy’s image as a harbinger of good fortune.
Social media is awash with celebratory posts, with users sharing images and expressing their hopes for a lucky year. One Weibo user commented, “[It’s an] oriental new year with magical elements,” while another invoked a reference to the series itself, writing “Felix Felicis!” – a potion known to bring good luck.
The unexpected embrace of Draco Malfoy as a Lunar New Year mascot highlights the power of cultural adaptation and the enduring appeal of the Harry Potter universe. It’s a testament to how a character initially conceived as a villain can be reinterpreted and celebrated in a completely new context, driven by a simple, yet powerful, linguistic connection.
