A pun on his Chinese name "Ma Er Fu" (horse & fortune) made Harry Potter's Draco Malfoy a viral mascot for the 2026 Year of the Horse. Netizens use his image on decorations and merchandise, blending pop culture with Lunar New Year traditions for good luck.
You may not know this, but Draco Malfoy has unexpectedly become a mascot for good fortune in the Year of the Horse among Chinese netizens. His face now appears everywhere — pasted beside crimson couplets on apartment doors, printed on teacups, and shimmering on the backs of smartphones. This silver-tongued Slytherin from J.K. Rowling's globally beloved Harry Potter series is riding a wave of festive popularity.
The trend springs from a clever linguistic coincidence. In Chinese, Malfoy's name is translated as "Ma Er Fu" — where "ma" means "horse," and "fu" means "fortune" or "blessing." This serendipitous wordplay has led netizens to embrace Malfoy as a playful symbol for the upcoming lunar year.
Tom Felton, the actor who portrayed Malfoy, reshared an Instagram story acknowledging his new role as a "symbol of Chinese New Year in China."
A Xiaohongshu user reposting Felton's note captured the collective delight: "When netizens meme this, it's 100% funny. When Malfoy himself joins in, it's 100,000% hilarious."
Search for "Ma Er Fu" on Douyin or Xiaohongshu, and you'll find a flood of festive merchandise: fridge magnets, phone cases, and pendants all featuring Malfoy's trademark smirk.
Some have placed his image on "fuzi" — traditional red paper squares usually displaying the character 福 (fu) for luck — while others hang the posters upside-down. This is a customary New Year pun, as "upside-down" (倒 dào) sounds like "arrive" (到 dào), implying that fortune is on its way.
A shopping mall in Henan Province even hung a digital banner with Spring Festival couplets flanking a large portrait of Malfoy, according to online posts.
"I have to say, this is truly creative. What kind of genius netizen came up with this?... Anyone who's read Harry Potter will smile, as countless wonderful memories come rushing back," wrote Weibo user Zhuishanai.
Under the hashtag "The Year of the Horse Ma Er Fu," comments pour in: "Wish you good fortune in the Year of the Horse!" "Full of blessings!" "May all your wishes come true!" — often accompanied by Malfoy's smirking face on red fuzi.
Yinuo, a Harry Potter fan on Xiaohongshu, printed fuzi with Malfoy's face and stuck it on her office cubicle wall to boost her mood at work. "Ma Er Fu just fits the festive vibe for the Year of the Horse!"
"I've watched the series over five times since middle school. Though he's a villain, Malfoy is a deeply charismatic character," she added.
After she shared a photo of her poster, many friends asked for copies. "All Harry Potter fans get it!" she said.
Businesses have caught on. A Taobao shop sells a fridge magnet of Malfoy riding a horse while holding the character 福 for 6.5 yuan (about $0.93). The shop owner told the Global Times that sales have been strong, with over 100 units sold.
On Xiaohongshu, phone cases with Malfoy's smirk are priced between 7 and 12 yuan each. "We estimate selling around 100 pieces per design," one seller noted.
The trend has drawn coverage from international media like the BBC and CNN. While many Chinese netizens find it heartwarming, some overseas observers are amused yet puzzled.
A BBC report mentions netizens posting upside-down pictures of Malfoy's smirk and referencing "Felix Felicis" — the luck potion from Harry Potter — to attract good fortune.
CNN quoted customers saying, "Bring me some fortune in 2026, young master," channeling their New Year wishes through Malfoy.
Beyond Malfoy, other celebrities have been used for homophonic puns in marketing. Dairy giant Yili featured actress Ma Yili (whose surname "Ma" means horse) as a brand ambassador, launching a campaign that asked netizens to complete a couplet: "Ma Yili, choose Yili in the Year of the Horse." The post garnered around 60,000 likes and nearly 7,000 comments on Weibo.
The Chinese Zodiac remains a popular topic globally. The Economic Times noted that in 2026, the Horse's boldness merges with the Fire element's intensity, encouraging decisive action and the pursuit of personal goals.
Source:
Editor: Crystal H
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