Draco Malfoy becomes mascot for the Year of the Horse in China

Fans in China have embraced Draco Malfoy as an auspicious figure for the Year of the Horse because the Mandarin transliteration of his name, mǎ ěr fú, includes characters meaning "horse" and "fortune", prompting memes and themed merchandise.

Draco Malfoy has become an unexpected Lunar New Year symbol across China as the Year of the Horse approaches. Fans have pointed out that the Mandarin transliteration of his name, mǎ ěr fú, contains the character mǎ meaning "horse" and fú meaning "fortune" or "blessing". That wordplay has inspired memes, fan art, decorations and themed merchandise online and in public spaces. Actor Tom Felton reposted an image of a red banner featuring his face from a Chinese shopping mall. Key points: - In Mandarin, Malfoy's name transliterates as "mǎ ěr fú"; the first character mǎ means "horse" and the final character fú means "fortune" or "blessing". - The combined reading can be loosely interpreted as "horse fortune", which fans treat as auspicious for the Year of the Horse. - The wordplay has produced memes, fan art, decorations and themed merchandise across Chinese social media and in public spaces such as shopping malls and offices. - Tom Felton, who recently returned to stage in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, reposted on his Instagram story a photo of a red banner from a Chinese mall that included Mandarin text translated as "Magical awakening that attracts abundant wealth." - According to CGTN, about 200 million copies of Chinese editions of the Harry Potter books have been sold in China since 2000. - Warner Bros. Discovery announced a Harry Potter studio tour in Shanghai covering 53,000 square metres, described as the largest of its kind in China and expected to open in 2027. Summary: The name-based wordplay has generated a wave of lighthearted fan activity and visual decorations ahead of the Lunar New Year. Millions across the country are preparing for the holiday, which begins later this month. Longer-term franchise developments include the planned Shanghai studio tour expected to open in 2027.