"Harry Potter Rival" Draco Malfoy Becomes a "Lunar New Year Mascot" in China

Seen as a "symbol that brings good luck" in Chinese
Rising as a popular character in the Year of the Horse

Draco Malfoy, one of the main rival characters in the popular fantasy film series "Harry Potter," has recently been gaining popularity across China. As the Lunar New Year holiday period (February 17 to March 3) approaches, Malfoy is reportedly being regarded as a "symbol that brings good luck."

According to reports from foreign media outlets such as CNN in the United States and the BBC in the United Kingdom on the 3rd (local time), Draco Malfoy is proving popular in many parts of China ahead of the Lunar New Year. Malfoy can be spotted in various places, from decorating large shopping malls' New Year promotional posters to being featured in collaboration merchandise.

Rival character Malfoy Draco from the Potter Harry series. SNS screenshot

Draco Malfoy is a major villain character in the Harry Potter novels and films written by British author J.K. Rowling. In the films, he is played by British actor Tom Felton. Within the story, he is shown constantly antagonizing and keeping the protagonist Harry Potter in check.

Why, then, has Malfoy been chosen as a Lunar New Year mascot in China? In Chinese, Malfoy is pronounced "Maerfu (德拉科)," and this pronunciation is interpreted as meaning "a horse brings good fortune." On top of that, 2026 is the Year of the Horse, so he also fits well as a symbol of the New Year. For these reasons, Malfoy has quickly risen to become an emblem of the 2026 Lunar New Year.

Malfoy Draco decorating a shopping mall in China. SNS capture

On Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo, Xiaohongshu, and Douyin, images of Malfoy with his characteristic smirk are being shared, carrying messages wishing for health and prosperity in the New Year. Chinese retailers are also actively engaging in "Malfoy marketing." Various goods, including Lunar New Year stickers and magnets featuring the Malfoy character, are being produced and sold.

Tom Felton has also shared related Instagram posts in response to Malfoy's popularity in China.

Meanwhile, the Harry Potter series continues to enjoy strong popularity in China. Although the Harry Potter film series has already concluded, its re-release in 2020 earned 90 million yuan (about 18.8 billion won) in box office revenue across China in just three days. Warner Bros. Discovery plans to open the largest-ever Harry Potter Studio Tour in Shanghai in 2027.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.