Malfoy Mania
As Chinese New Year approaches, an unexpected mascot has captured the imagination of young people in China: Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter films.
Yes, the cold and arrogant Slytherin bully known for his signature sneer has somehow become a festive symbol. Chinese netizens have embraced him as a playful icon, featuring his face on red-themed holiday decorations and even placing his image on their doors to welcome the new year.
Why the sudden popularity? It all has to do with Malfoy's Chinese name: Ma Er Fu, which translates to "horse", "you", and "fortune". As China prepares to enter the Year of the Horse, the name has taken on a clever new twist: "In the Year of the Horse, you are blessed."
This bit of wordplay has sparked a wave of memes and fan creations across Chinese social media. A cheerful, youthful Malfoy, riding a cartoon horse, is now turning up not only in homes but also in offices and shopping malls.
Remarkably, this trend has even gone global. A TikTok video explaining the phenomenon was shared — and liked — by Tom Felton himself, the actor who played Malfoy.
CNN also covered the story, adding a humorous note:"The Year of the Horse begins on Feb 17 with the end of the Year of the Snake (an animal equally apt for Malfoy, as the symbol of Slytherin, his house at Hogwarts)."
"Hopefully, this fusion of Chinese 'magic' and pop culture will inspire more creativity, making traditional celebrations feel fresher and more meaningful through love and appreciation," wrote Wendaoli, the Xiaohongshu (RedNote) user who first came up with the idea.
Tribute to heroism
Chinese video platform Bilibili released its Annual Bullet Comments list, highlighting the phrase zhijing, or "salute".
According to the platform, in 2025, the "salute" comment was posted over 22.82 million times, with more than 4.59 million users participating. Notably, 80 percent of them were born after 2000.
In the vast world of short videos, young people often gravitate toward humor and light-hearted entertainment. Yet they reserve the "salute" comment for moments that reflect kindness, bravery, love, and heroism. Over time, it has become a meaningful way to express sincere admiration and respect.
The first "salute" of 2025 appeared in a video featuring a vlogger who, despite losing a limb, continued to face life with optimism. The video that received the highest number of "salute" comments of the year — 109,962 — shows the creator cleaning a martyrs' cemetery at the request of a veteran.
Since 2017, Bilibili has selected and published its annual bullet comments for nine consecutive years. These phrases not only reflect how young people's communication styles are evolving, but also reveal the emotional values and connections that resonate most deeply with today's youth.
