Unexpectedly, Draco Malfoy, the famous rival of Harry Potter in the book series, has become a symbol of the Chinese Lunar New Year. His image has appeared on red decorations and festive products, from posters to mobile phone cases. The sudden surge in interest in the character, played by Tom Felton in the films, is due to the Chinese translation of his name, which means 'horse' and 'luck,' aligning with the Year of the Horse in the lunar calendar. Social media has been flooded with photos of people hanging red Malfoy posters on their doors. Other posts showed a giant image of the character in his iconic costume displayed across several floors of a shopping mall in Henan province, central China. The Harry Potter film series is extremely popular in China, where foreign films make up a relatively small portion of box office revenue due to strict restrictions and a focus on local content. In 2024, all eight Harry Potter films were re-released in Chinese cinemas.
