How Draco Malfoy became face of Chinese Lunar New Year
What's the story
In a surprising twist, the character of Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter series has become a mascot for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations in China. The character's name, when translated into Chinese as "Ma-er-fu," includes characters that mean horse and fortune, making it particularly auspicious for the Year of the Horse. This has led to a surge in popularity for Malfoy-themed decorations on Chinese e-commerce platforms and social media.
Cultural fusion
Malfoy couplets and upside-down posters
Ahead of the Lunar New Year, Chinese households typically adorn their doors with couplets or auspicious writings that usher in health and prosperity for the coming year. Many hang fuzi or red square papers with the word for "prosperity" on it. This year, however, people have started decorating their homes with fuzi printed with Malfoy's face, per the BBC. Some have even gone so far as to hang these upside down, a traditional practice that symbolizes luck entering the household.
Online trend
Malfoy has made it on stickers, magnets, and themed posters
The trend has taken off on Chinese social media platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu, where users have been posting videos of themselves pasting Malfoy posters on their doors and walls. The character's face can also be found on stickers, magnets, and even themed posters for sale on Taobao, a popular Chinese e-commerce site. One user commented on Weibo: "[It's an] oriental new year with magical elements."
Actor's response
Tom Felton's reaction
The unexpected trend has not gone unnoticed by Tom Felton, the actor who played Malfoy. He reshared an Instagram Story about his character becoming a "symbol of Chinese New Year in China." This sparked even more excitement on Chinese social media, with fans praising him. The Harry Potter franchise has a massive fanbase in China, and Warner Bros Discovery plans to open the largest Making of Harry Potter studio tour in Shanghai by 2027.