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2026-02-02 21:00:00

Draco Malfoy Is Now a Lunar New Year Mascot. Sure, Why Not.

Move over zodiac horses—Draco Malfoy is having a moment. In the run-up to the Year of the Horse, Chinese internet users have been turning the Harry Potter bad boy into an unlikely symbol of good lu...

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BY JULI DENO |
Juli is a graphic designer who has brought color and beauty to SmartShanghai for over 12 years. A lover of animals, sports, and food, he occasionally finds himself missing the vibrant energy of Shanghai.

Move over zodiac horses—Draco Malfoy is having a moment.

In the run-up to the Year of the Horse, Chinese internet users have been turning the Harry Potter bad boy into an unlikely symbol of good luck. Posters of Draco—stern blond fringe and all—are popping up on front doors, walls, and fridges, styled like traditional red fu squares.

The reason? Draco's Chinese name, "Ma Er Fu" (马尔福), just so happens to include "马" (horse) and "福" (fortune). When you say it out loud, it kind of sounds like "luck arriving in the Year of the Horse." Close enough.

Some are even flipping him upside down, mimicking the tradition of inverting the "fu" character to mean that good fortune has already arrived.

So yes: wizard-themed Lunar New Year decorations are a thing now. Somewhere, J.K. Rowling is probably confused.

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