Draco Malfoy, the wealthy blond-haired teenager who frequently clashed with Harry Potter in J.K. Rowling's novels, is now appearing across China on Lunar New Year couplets and greeting messages.

An image of Malfoy next to the phrase "Ma Er Fu has arrived," affixed to a house door in China. *Sina*

Malfoy's name, when transliterated into Chinese, becomes "Ma Er Fu." The character "Ma" symbolizes a horse, while "Fu" represents good fortune. This year's Year of the Fire Horse (Binh Ngo) begins on 17/2.

In Eastern culture, the horse is associated with loyalty, perseverance, and the aspiration for success. This association makes Malfoy's name evoke images of horses bringing good omens for the new Year of the Fire Horse.

Tom Felton, the actor who portrayed Malfoy, shared a photo on his personal page of a giant banner featuring the character in wizard attire, displayed in a Chinese shopping mall lobby. On Douyin, a video showing Malfoy couplets being affixed to a refrigerator garnered tens of thousands of likes. "You are truly a genius," one user commented.

An electronic poster of Malfoy at a shopping mall in Henan province, China. *CNN*

Many entrepreneurs seized the business opportunity, selling Malfoy posters on e-commerce platforms. "Good fortune has arrived," one customer wrote on Pinduoduo, "Please bring me some luck in 2026, young master Ma Er Fu."

The Harry Potter franchise has achieved significant success in China, with nearly 10 million translated copies sold by 2007. The 2020 re-release of the first film also grossed nearly 28 million USD at the national box office.

Hong Hanh (Source: CNN)