Draco Malfoy turns unexpected Lunar New Year mascot in China

Draco Malfoy, the platinum-haired rival from the Harry Potter universe, has emerged as an unlikely symbol of Lunar New Year celebrations in China, with his image appearing on festive decorations and merchandise across the country.

According to reports by BBC and The Independent, the character's sudden popularity is linked to the Chinese transliteration of his surname - "Ma-er-fu" - which incorporates the words for "horse" and "fortune". The association is considered particularly auspicious for the upcoming Year of the Horse.

In the run-up to Lunar New Year, Chinese households traditionally adorn their doors with red couplets bearing blessings for health and prosperity. Others display fuzi - red square papers printed with the Chinese character for prosperity - often hung upside down to signify good fortune arriving, as the words for "upside down" and "arrival" are homophones in Mandarin.

This year, however, social media posts show some families replacing traditional motifs with images of Malfoy, including his trademark smirk. On e-commerce platform Taobao, vendors are selling Malfoy-themed stickers, magnets and posters, while users share his image with the caption: "Share this image for good fortune".

"Year of the Horse's blessing, so stick on a Malfoy," one user wrote on China's Rednote platform.

"[It's an] oriental new year with magical elements," commented another user on Weibo.

"Felix Felicis!" read one post, referencing the fictional potion in the series that grants temporary luck.

The character's renewed popularity has also drawn attention from actor Tom Felton, who portrayed Malfoy in the film adaptations of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and its sequels. Felton reshared an Instagram story describing his character as a "symbol of Chinese New Year in China", prompting further excitement online. 

Fans responded with the hashtag "Malfoy himself is 100% hilarious".

The Harry Potter franchise maintains a vast following in China, where hundreds of millions of books have been sold. A 2020 re-release of the first film reportedly generated more than 90 million yuan in three days. The eight films were also re-released in Chinese cinemas in 2024.

Beyond cinemas, the wizarding world has a strong physical presence in the country. Warner Bros Discovery has announced plans to open what is billed as the largest "Making Of Harry Potter" studio tour in Shanghai in 2027. Meanwhile, Universal Studios Beijing features "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter", dedicated to attractions based on the series.

Felton has also recently returned to the role on stage, reprising Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway at the Lyric Theatre in New York City. Footage shared by the production shows the actor pausing for nearly 30 seconds as applause erupted before he could deliver his opening line: "I need a favor."

"It's true then, what they're saying on the train. Tom Felton has come to Broadway," the official Cursed Child account wrote alongside a clip of the moment on Instagram.