Malfoy: China's Unlikely Lunar New Year Icon?

Draco Malfoy, a notable antagonist from the Harry Potter series, has emerged as an unexpected icon in China during recent Lunar New Year celebrations. His popularity stems from a clever wordplay; the transliteration of "Malfoy" in Mandarin includes characters for "horse" and "fortune," aligning him auspiciously with the current Year of the Horse.

This cultural moment has seen Malfoy's image appear on memes and festive decorations. Online vendors quickly produced merchandise featuring actor Tom Felton, who portrays Malfoy, making the character accessible for just a few yuan. Felton actively participated, sharing videos and photos of himself embracing Chinese New Year traditions, including an upside-down "fu" character poster, which signifies "fortune has arrived."

However, Felton's use of "Happy Chinese New Year" on social media sparked debate among users from Taiwan, Vietnam, and other regions. They criticized the phrasing for excluding them, advocating for "Happy Lunar New Year" instead. This highlights how the wordplay is specific to mainland China, where "Malfoy" was transliterated to include the "fortune" character, unlike in Taiwan.

The Harry Potter franchise retains significant popularity in China, the world's second-largest film market. All eight films were re-released theatrically in 2024, and Universal Studios Beijing features a dedicated Harry Potter area. Further attractions, including a studio tour, are planned for Shanghai in 2027.