Draco Malfoy Becomes Lunar New Year Mascot in China

Published: 04 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

An unexpected and distinctly magical figure has taken centre stage in China’s Lunar New Year celebrations this year, as Draco Malfoy, the aristocratic Slytherin rival from the Harry Potter series, becomes an unlikely festive mascot. Across Chinese cities and online marketplaces, the pale-haired wizard’s familiar smirk is appearing on doors, walls and refrigerators, woven into traditional decorations meant to usher in luck, prosperity and happiness for the year ahead.

The phenomenon has surprised even devoted fans of the wizarding world. Draco Malfoy, portrayed by British actor Tom Felton, is hardly the first character that comes to mind when one thinks of good fortune. Yet cultural coincidence and linguistic charm have propelled him into a celebratory spotlight, turning a once-antagonistic character into a symbol of auspicious beginnings for the Lunar New Year.

The trend stems largely from the Chinese transliteration of Malfoy’s name. In Mandarin, “Malfoy” is rendered as “Ma-er-fu”, a combination of characters that carry particularly positive connotations. The word “Ma” means horse, while “Fu” signifies fortune or blessing. With the upcoming Lunar New Year marking the Year of the Horse, the name suddenly feels uncannily well-suited to the season. To many celebrants, the connection feels playful yet meaningful, aligning pop culture with centuries-old traditions of symbolism and wordplay.

As Lunar New Year approaches, households across China typically decorate their homes with couplets, vertical red banners inscribed with auspicious phrases wishing health, wealth and harmony. Another common decoration is the fuzi, a red square bearing the character “fu”, meaning prosperity or good fortune. These squares are often hung upside down, as the word for “upside down” in Chinese sounds the same as the word for “arrival”, symbolising that luck has arrived at the household.

This year, however, traditional characters are being joined by something far less conventional. On Chinese social media platforms, images have circulated of front doors adorned with festive couplets alongside portraits of Draco Malfoy. Some feature his trademark platinum blond hair and sardonic smile framed by red and gold borders, while others show upside-down images of the character in place of the usual fuzi, merging old customs with modern fandom.

The trend has spread quickly online, fuelled by humour and the communal joy of discovering an unexpected cultural crossover. On Weibo, one of China’s largest social media platforms, users have shared photos of Malfoy-themed decorations with captions encouraging others to repost them for good fortune. Comments range from playful amusement to genuine delight at what many see as a clever blend of East and West.

One popular comment described the phenomenon as “an oriental new year with magical elements”, while another simply invoked “Felix Felicis”, the fictional luck-enhancing potion from the Harry Potter universe. The reference resonated widely, reinforcing the idea that Malfoy’s image, however tongue-in-cheek, might just bring a little extra luck to the coming year.

E-commerce platforms have been quick to capitalise on the viral trend. On Taobao, China’s largest online marketplace, merchants are selling an array of Draco Malfoy-themed Lunar New Year decorations, including stickers, magnets, posters and door hangings. Many designs incorporate traditional red-and-gold colour schemes, blending seamlessly with more conventional festive decor. Some listings even promise to deliver “horse-year fortune” through Malfoy’s image, leaning into the linguistic coincidence that sparked the craze.

Harry Potter’s enduring popularity in China has provided fertile ground for the trend to flourish. The book series has sold hundreds of millions of copies in the country, and its cinematic releases have consistently drawn large audiences. When the first Harry Potter film was re-released in Chinese cinemas in 2020, it grossed more than 90 million yuan in just three days, underscoring the franchise’s lasting appeal across generations.

For many Chinese fans, the series represents not only a beloved fantasy world but also a cultural touchstone that accompanied their childhoods and adolescence. Characters like Draco Malfoy, once viewed primarily as villains or foils, have been reinterpreted over time through memes, fan fiction and nostalgic reflection. His transformation into a symbol of fortune fits neatly within this broader pattern of playful reinterpretation.

The trend has also crossed the digital divide, catching the attention of Tom Felton himself. The actor reshared an Instagram story highlighting Draco Malfoy’s unexpected status as a Lunar New Year symbol in China, describing it as his character becoming a “symbol of Chinese New Year”. His acknowledgement instantly amplified the excitement, with Chinese fans celebrating the moment as validation from “Malfoy himself”.

Felton’s reaction sparked a new wave of online enthusiasm. The hashtag praising his response quickly gained traction, with users calling him “100% hilarious” and applauding his willingness to embrace the joke. For many fans, the actor’s good-humoured engagement reinforced the sense that the trend is rooted in joy and cultural exchange rather than irony alone.

Beyond its novelty, the Malfoy phenomenon reflects a deeper pattern in how global pop culture is absorbed and reimagined in China. Lunar New Year decorations have evolved significantly in recent decades, incorporating cartoon characters, internet memes and celebrities alongside traditional symbols. The festival, while deeply rooted in history, has proven remarkably adaptable, allowing new icons to coexist with age-old customs.

Cultural analysts note that wordplay has always played a central role in Lunar New Year symbolism. Homophones, puns and linguistic coincidences are commonly used to convey blessings and good fortune. In that sense, Draco Malfoy’s rise as a festive mascot is not as strange as it might first appear. His name simply happens to align perfectly with the themes of the Year of the Horse, making him a natural, if unexpected, fit.

The wizarding world’s growing physical presence in China is also set to strengthen these cultural connections. Warner Bros Discovery has announced plans to open the largest Making Of Harry Potter studio tour in Shanghai in 2027. The attraction is expected to draw fans from across Asia, further cementing the franchise’s influence and offering new opportunities for cross-cultural engagement.

For now, Draco Malfoy’s Lunar New Year moment remains a light-hearted curiosity, a brief but joyful fusion of British fantasy and Chinese tradition. Whether the trend will persist beyond this year is uncertain, but its rapid spread highlights the creativity with which people adapt global culture to local contexts.

As families gather to welcome the new year, lighting lanterns, sharing meals and exchanging blessings, the sight of a Hogwarts student smiling down from a red paper square offers a reminder that tradition is not static. It evolves, absorbs and occasionally surprises. In the Year of the Horse, it seems that luck may arrive not only through ancient symbols, but also through a platinum-haired wizard who has found an unexpected home in Chinese celebration.