In early February 2026, Draco Malfoy, the Slytherin character from Harry Potter, unexpectedly became a symbol of good luck for Chinese New Year. The trend arose from a linguistic coincidence: his Chinese name, Ma Er Fu, contains the characters for “horse” and “fortune,” aligning with the 2026 Year of the Horse.
Fan-made images of Malfoy incorporated into traditional “fu” decorations quickly went viral on Chinese social media, with related hashtags reaching over 100 million views on Weibo. The trend caught international attention, with media outlets such as the BBC, CNN, and The Guardian reporting on it, and actor Tom Felton sharing the memes online.
This phenomenon reflects a broader pattern of Chinese internet culture remixing global pop icons with local humor and traditions. Previous trends include Slytherin-related memes during the 2025 Year of the Snake. Fans have also reimagined other characters, like Hermione or Dumbledore, in playful Chinese cultural contexts.
Beyond online entertainment, these memes often inspire real-world merchandise—from stickers to decorations—thanks to China’s fast-moving manufacturing networks. The trend highlights the growing global influence of Chinese online culture and the country’s youth-driven cultural confidence, which combines humor, creativity, and reinterpretation of foreign media.
Credit : CGTN
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