Draco Malfoy Becomes Unlikely Lucky Symbol for Chinese New Year

As theYear of the Horseapproaches in the Chinese lunar calendar (2026 begins on Feb. 17) - a year traditionally associated with strength, vitality and good fortune - an unexpected pop‑culture figure has emerged as a lucky symbol:Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin antagonist from the Harry Potter series. The trend stems from a wordplay in Chinese: Draco Malfoy’s name is commonly transliterated as “马尔福” (Mǎ ěr fú), where the character “马” (mǎ) means horse and “福” (fú) means good fortune. The coincidence thathis name contains both “horse” and “fortune”has turned Malfoy into a whimsical mascot for the Year of the Horse. Chinese netizens on platforms such asDouyin and Xiaohongshuhave been decorating their homes with red paper squares featuring Draco’s face, in a playful twist on traditionalfu(福) character posters that are commonly used to invite good luck during Lunar New Year celebrations. Some even mimic the custom of pastingfuupside down, which symbolically suggests “fortune arriving.” Videos ofpeople pasting Malfoy posters on their doors, walls and refrigeratorshave spread widely across social media - especially on TikTok, where a video explaining the trend garnered more than 1.5 million views by early February. On Chinese e‑commerce platforms like Taobao,themed posters and decorations featuring Draco’s signature smirk are already on sale, and fan edits often remix his image with traditional red and gold New Year motifs. In Chinese culture, the Zodiac animal for a lunar year is believed to influence fortune and personality traits for that year. The Horse is traditionally seen as a symbol of success, speed, freedom and good luck, making it a positive sign as 2026 begins. Complementing this cultural outlook, the linguistic twist that turns Malfoy’s name into horse plus fortune has delighted netizens, who enjoy the humorous contrast between Draco’s villainous reputation and his new role as a good‑luck symbol. Rather than a serious cultural change, the trend reflects the lively creativity of online communities - blending Western pop culture with traditional New Year customs to create a playful and memorable meme. A TikTok video posted on Jan 31 explaining the trend had already racked up over1.5 million viewsand186,000 likesby Feb 2, with many viewers amused that a character known for being a villain is now a symbol of good luck. One user commented,“Chinese people are genuinely so funny, I love this.” Referencing Malfoy’s iconic line,“My father will hear about this!”several others joked,“Does his father know about this?” It seems this trend is about to become impossible to ignore. Anuj is a senior sub-editor (lifestyle desk) at Firstpost who covers food, travel, health, and fitness, mostly because they’re all excellent excuses to leave the house. Powered by coffee, he spends his downtime airplane-spotting and exploring spirituality, hoping one day to understand both turbulence and the universe.see more Bhajan clubbing, a Gen Z-led trend blending devotional music with clubbing, is gaining popularity across Indian cities as a modern, non-alcoholic spiritual experience. Prime Minister Modi praised bhajan clubbing for fusing devotion, culture, and modernity, likening its energy to global music concerts. Event organisers like Backstage Siblings and Keshavam are leading the movement, with sold-out shows and nationwide tours, while brands tap into the trend for culturally mindful marketing. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.