A new viral trend linked to the Chinese New Year 2026 has grabbed widespread attention, with an unexpected symbol of fortune taking centre stage — Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter’s long-time rival from the Slytherin house.
Celebrated this year on February 17, the annual festival has seen an unusual pop culture infusion, as Malfoy-themed decorations have begun appearing across homes and marketplaces.
Chinese social media platforms Douyin and Xiaohongshu are buzzing with videos showing people pasting red, square-shaped papers featuring Malfoy’s trademark smirk on doors, walls and even refrigerators, replacing or accompanying traditional New Year decorations.
The reason behind this trend is not merely a fleeting social media obsession but carries a deeper cultural significance. Draco Malfoy’s name in Chinese, pronounced as ‘ma er fu’, includes characters that translate to horse (ma) and good fortune (fu), making it particularly auspicious this year.
The Chinese translation is also a clever wordplay on the phrase ma lai fu, which means welcoming good fortune in the Year of the Horse. As a result, posters featuring Malfoy have gone on sale across the Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao, while several people have chosen to print their own versions at home.
Several X users have shared their reactions to this unusual cross-cultural practice. One user wrote, “While Draco Malfoy trends align with cultural significances this year, it's fascinating how trends evolve! A reflection of our complex cultures, blending tradition with modernity. Let's embrace the creativity! #CulturalTrends”
In China, an unexpected symbol of the holiday has emerged — the Harry Potter character Draco Malfoy. The reason is simple and amusing: his last name was read as a combination of the Chinese words mǎ (“horse”) and fú (“good fortune”), which together mean “a horse that brings… pic.twitter.com/qrRSKvaH7P— PotterWorldwide (@PotterWorldW) January 31, 2026
Another X user commented, “astrology meets fandom in a weirdly perfect way”. Referring to the actor behind the character, played by Tom Felton in the Harry Potter film series, another user asked, “Does Tom Felton know about this?”
Also read: Did you know THIS Bridgerton Season 4 actress was also Harry Potter's first heartbreak?
Some photos circulating online also show people sticking Malfoy posters upside down, a traditional practice believed to symbolise the arrival of good fortune, instead of pasting the usual animal-themed posters associated with the New Year.
The phenomenon has quickly spread beyond China, drawing the attention of Harry Potter fans worldwide and sparking memes, discussions and amused reactions online. Many social media users have praised the playful blending of fantasy elements with age-old cultural customs.
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