How Draco Malfoy Became the Unofficial Chinese New Year Mascot

The Year of the Snake may be over, but one Slytherin is still popping up as a symbol of the Lunar New Year. Ahead of the Year of the Fire Horse, the Harry Potter character is trending online as an unlikely mascot. But what does the Chinese zodiac’s fiery equine have to do with a platinum-blond wizard? And how did Malfoy end up plastered across red New Year posters in China? Much of the fascination, it turns out, is written right in the characters.

The Wizarding World of Wordplay

Forget horseshoes, Hogwarts' resident villain is apparently the new good luck charm. It all comes down to a play on words, particularly in relation to his Chinese name. And no, nothing is lost in translation here.

Draco Malfoy’s name in Chinese, “马尔福” (mǎ ěr fú), contains two characters with New Year significance: “马” (mǎ), meaning “horse,” and “福” (fú), meaning “fortune” or “blessing.” Coincidentally, the first character nods to 2026’s zodiac animal, while the second is a staple of Lunar New Year festivities. Together, the name sounds similar to “马来福” (mǎ lái fú), a celebratory phrase welcoming good fortune, making Malfoy an unexpectedly apt mascot in the Year of the Horse.

From Meme to Mantel

Slytherin-themed decorations are nothing new—at least for Harry Potter fans. But now, Draco Malfoy is shedding his snakeskin for bright red Lunar New Year décor, hopping on the saddle of the Fire Horse. During the Chinese New Year, decorations are hung to bring luck, wealth, and protection into the home, often through clever puns and wordplay. Classic motifs include fish, red lanterns, plum blossoms, and now, Malfoy’s iconic blond mop and mischievous smirk.

What began as fan art and memes pairing Malfoy with traditional New Year imagery on Chinese social media has spilled into real life, appearing on doors, walls, and fridges across China. Fans have embraced the trend on everything from phone cases and fridge magnets to traditional paper squares, often adding handwritten wishes for wealth, happiness, and success.

Some decorations follow customary practices, like red fuzi squares—here swapping the usual characters for luck with the Harry Potter character—or hanging posters upside-down to signal that good fortune is “arriving.” The craze has gone so far that Tom Felton, the British actor who plays Malfoy, even weighed in, reposting an Instagram story about being a “symbol of #ChineseNewYear.” Clearly, Malfoy has figured out how to successfully Slytherin into the hearts—and homes—of Lunar New Year celebrants.