Harry Potter’s Draco Malfoy becomes mascot for year of the horse in China

Draco Malfoy, the Harry Potter character, has become a popular Lunar New Year symbol in China due to the auspicious meaning of his Mandarin transliteration, "Mǎ ěr fú," which can be interpreted as "horse fortune." This wordplay has led to a surge of Malfoy-themed memes, fan art, and decorations across Chinese social media as the country prepares for the Lunar New Year. Actor Tom Felton acknowledged the phenomenon by reposting an image of a promotional banner featuring his face. The Harry Potter series has been immensely popular in China, with approximately 200 million copies sold since 2000. Warner Brothers Discovery is also planning to open a large Harry Potter studio tour in Shanghai in 2027, highlighting the franchise's continued popularity in the region.

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