An unlikely Chinese New Year mascot has popped up in China this year — Draco Malfoy.
Tom Felton is best known for his role in the Harry Potter series, but now, the actor is also making an appearance in some Chinese houses, with e-commerce sites selling festive decor prominently featuring his face.
His sudden popularity is thanks to his Chinese translation of his name Malfoy — Ma Er Fu, which contains the words for "horse" and "fortune" — ringing especially auspicious for the upcoming Year of the Horse.
On Chinese social media, pictures show some users sticking couplets or upside down pictures of Malfoy's signature smirk.
Merchants on e-commerce site Taobao are also seizing on the trend, coming up with stickers and magnets featuring the Harry Potter character.
Others began sharing photos of the character, saying: "Share this image for good fortune."
The Malfoy-themed Chinese New Year decor has even caught the eye of actor Felton, who reshared an Instagram story about his character becoming a "symbol of Chinese New Year in China".
