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

[Dangerou]

A bizarre yet intriguing phenomenon has emerged in China as fans of the Harry Potter franchise have taken to embracing a villainous character - Draco Malfoy. The young wizard's name in Mandarin reads "mǎ ěr fú", meaning "horse fortune," which has led to him becoming an unlikely icon for the upcoming Year of the Horse, a symbol associated with good luck and prosperity in Chinese culture.

Malfoy's unexpected popularity can be attributed to the clever wordplay of his name. Fans have taken to social media platforms and online marketplaces, adorning their refrigerators, offices, and shopping malls with posters and merchandise featuring a smiling young Malfoy riding cartoon horses. The character's image has become ubiquitous, as fans celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Horse.

In a surprising display of awareness, actor Tom Felton, who played Malfoy in the films, recently reposted an image on his Instagram story from a Chinese shopping mall. The banner read "Magical awakening that attracts abundant wealth," further highlighting the significance of Malfoy's name in this cultural context.

The surge in popularity can be linked to the immense success of Harry Potter books and merchandise in China. Since their introduction in 2000, approximately 200 million copies have been sold, with Warner Brothers Discovery announcing plans for a massive studio tour in Shanghai next year.

As Chinese fans eagerly anticipate the Lunar New Year, which begins later this month, Draco Malfoy has taken on an unexpected role as a symbol of good fortune. The character's unusual popularity serves as a testament to the enduring appeal of the Harry Potter franchise in China, where fans continue to find creative ways to celebrate and engage with their favorite characters.

 

[The Secret Weap]

I'm low-key obsessed with this Draco Malfoy thing . Like, who knew his name sounded like "horse fortune" was gonna be a winning combo? It's so cool that fans in China are embracing him as a symbol of good luck and prosperity for the Year of the Horse . I mean, Tom Felton reposting an image on Instagram was just the cherry on top – it shows how much the Harry Potter fandom is still going strong over there! The merch is looking fire too , and I can already imagine my friends' refrigerators with Malfoy's smiling face plastered all over them . It just goes to show that even the most unexpected characters can become icons in the right cultural context .

 

[My First Viki]

I don’t usually comment but... I have to admit, Draco Malfoy riding cartoon horses is kinda funny . I mean, who would've thought that a character known for being a spoiled rich kid would become associated with good luck? It's actually pretty cool how fans are embracing the wordplay of his name in Chinese culture . And yeah, it's awesome to see Tom Felton sharing the love on Instagram too . The fact that Harry Potter has been so successful in China is no surprise - the books and movies have become a staple for many young people here . It'll be interesting to see how this popularity translates into real-life celebrations during Lunar New Year !

 

[Xerothermic X]

I'm low-key obsessed with this Draco Malfoy thing rn . Like, who knew his name was just a clever play on words?! It's actually kinda genius how it's become associated with good luck in Chinese culture. And can we talk about Tom Felton reposting that shopping mall pic? He's totally with the times. It's crazy to think that Harry Potter books have been selling like 200 million copies in China since 2000... that's some serious dedication from fans! I'm shipping Draco as a symbol of good fortune, tbh

 

[Reveng]

I think its kinda cool how this is happening . I mean, who would've thought that Draco Malfoy, like, the ultimate bad boy from Harry Potter, would become a symbol of good luck in China? But at the same time, its also pretty wild to see how fans are using his name and image in such creative ways . Like, people putting up posters on their fridges with him riding cartoon horses - that's just hilarious .

And I love how Tom Felton is into it too . He reposted an image of this Chinese shopping mall banner with a message about "magical awakening" and abundant wealth. It's like, the Harry Potter franchise has become this cultural phenomenon in China, and fans are finding ways to connect with the characters on a deeper level .

The thing is, its not just about Draco Malfoy being a villain - hes become an icon for good luck, which says something about how fans are looking for positive vibes in Chinese culture . And hey, if people want to celebrate the Year of the Horse with a smiling young Malfoy on their fridge or office wall, why not?

 

[NBA Bakin]

I gotta say , who would've thought that Draco Malfoy, the bad boy of Hogwarts, would become an unlikely symbol of good luck in China? I mean, his name translates to "horse fortune" which is actually a pretty cool wordplay . It's wild how fans have taken to embracing him as a representation of prosperity and wealth. The fact that Tom Felton reposted an image on Instagram highlighting the significance of Malfoy's name just goes to show how big of a deal this is for Chinese Potterheads .

I think it's also pretty interesting how the Harry Potter franchise has become so deeply ingrained in Chinese popular culture. With over 200 million copies sold, it's clear that fans are passionate about the series and willing to go all out with their fandom . Whether it's on refrigerators or shopping mall walls, Malfoy's face is everywhere right now .

I'm excited to see how this Year of the Horse celebration plays out and if Malfoy becomes a lasting symbol of good fortune in China . One thing's for sure - Draco has won over some unexpected fans and his legacy will be remembered for years to come .

 

[Brain-D]

I think it's kinda awesome that Draco Malfoy became a thing in China . Like, who would've thought that a villain from Harry Potter would be associated with good luck? The name "mǎ ěr fú" is so clever and I can see why fans are using it to decorate their homes and shops . It's also super cool that Tom Felton reposted an image on Instagram showing the character's face in a shopping mall - talk about brand recognition . The fact that the Harry Potter series has been so popular in China for years is just amazing, it's proof that the magic of the books and movies still lives on .

 

[Monster Driv]

I gotta say, I'm both surprised and amused by this whole Draco Malfoy thing . Like, who would've thought that a character from a kid's book series would become an unlikely symbol of good luck in Chinese culture? It's actually kinda cool how the wordplay on his name has created a connection between him and the Year of the Horse. I mean, 200 million copies sold of Harry Potter books in China is no joke ... it just goes to show that the franchise has really found its footing in the East. And Tom Felton repping Malfoy's image on Instagram? That's some dedication . It's all about finding the silver lining, right? Even if it's a bit weird .