Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter becomes the mascot for the Year of the Horse in China | China

Draco Malfoy, one of Harry Potter’s most iconic villains, has become an unexpected symbol of the Lunar New Year across China, as fans embrace the character in the Year of the Horse.

In Mandarin, Malfoy’s name is translated as “mƎ ěr fú”. The first letter means “horse” while the last letter “fú” means “luck” or “blessing” – a powerful symbol found in Lunar New Year celebrations.

Together, the name Malfoy can be loosely read as “horse fortune,” making him an unexpectedly auspicious figure for the coming year.

The wordplay sparked a wave of memes, fan art, decorations and themed merchandise across Chinese social media. Images of the young Malfoy – played by English actor Tom Felton – smiling from red Lunar New Year posters and riding cartoon horses have appeared on refrigerators, in office spaces and in shopping malls alike.

Felton seems to have noticed this madness. On Tuesday, the 38-year-old actor, who recently reprized his role in the Broadway production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, reposted a photo on Instagram of his face, radiating from a red sign at a Chinese shopping mall.

The Mandarin characters on the sign said: “A magical awakening that attracts abundant wealth.”

The Malfoy mania comes as millions across the country prepare for the Lunar New Year, which begins later this month. Since the launch of the Chinese versions of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series in 2000, nearly 200 million copies of the books have been sold in China, according to CGTN.

Last year, Warner Brothers Discovery announced that it would build a Harry Potter studio ride in Shanghai, larger than the franchise’s existing studio rides in London and Tokyo.

This experience was described as “the first round of its kind in China,” and the project, which will extend over an area of ​​53,000 square meters, is expected to open in 2027.