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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Maya Yang

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

Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Draco Malfoy, played by the English actor Tom Felton, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Photograph: Jaap Buitendjik

Draco Malfoy, one of Harry Potter’s most recognisable villains, has become an unlikely lunar new year icon across China, as fans embrace the character for the year of the horse.

In Mandarin, Malfoy’s name is transliterated as “mǎ ěr fú”. The first character means “horse” while the final character, “fú”, means “fortune” or “blessing” – a powerful symbol found across lunar new year celebrations.

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