Graphic made by Leah Ioane
Lunar New Year 2026 falls on February 17, 2026, which marks the year of the Fire Horse. The festival begins on the first day, with public holidays usually lasting for seven days, from Feb 17 to Feb 23, 2026. While the Fire Horse has been a big topic, another unlikely mascot has been used to celebrate. Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter series is bringing good luck by being displayed for the Lunar New Year.
Origins and Traditions
While the date for the first Lunar New Year is unknown, it has been speculated. Some people believe that it originated in the Shang Dynasty, when people held sacrificial ceremonies in honor of gods and ancestors. Today, this holiday is linked to the legend of Nian, a myth where a monster named Nian would attack villagers for resources at the end of every winter.
The Lunar New Year is a family-focused celebration. Common ways to celebrate are honoring ancestors, attending family reunions and valuing good fortune. On the eve of the New Year, a traditional dinner is held, where money is given to family members in red envelopes while they wear red clothing. Similar to January 1, fireworks are lit in celebration. Red is used in reference to the legend of Nian, with the color being used to scare off the beast.
The occurrence of a Fire Horse is rare, only happening once every 60 years. While the Chinese zodiac rotates through 12 animals yearly, it also rotates through five different elements such as wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Unlike the animals, the elements change every two years. The last year of the fire horse was in 1966, and it will not occur again until 2086. The significance of the Fire Horse is meant to bring rapid change and independence. The year also brings a significant event, a total lunar eclipse. Many refer to this as a blood moon, which falls during the Lantern Festival on March 3, 2026.
Mascot of 2026
Draco Malfoy is known as Harry Potter’s antagonist throughout the series. This nomination as a New Year symbol has nothing to do with the character. This fame is brought from the phonetic translation of his name into Mandarin, “mǎ ěr fú” (马尔福), meaning “horse” (马) and “good fortune” (福). His photo hung upside down is often followed with the phrase “Malfoy arrives” (马尔福到), playing on traditional greetings. The mandarin word for “upside down” sounds similar to the word “has arrived,” furthering this comedic phenomenon.
Tom Felton, who plays Malfoy, has responded to this occurrence. Felton is currently reprising his character on Broadway in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The play’s official Instagram account posted a video of Felton hanging up a traditional fú decoration with his character’s face on it on his dressing room door. He hung it upside down, which is meant to bring good luck to the person who hangs it. His reasoning for hanging it upside down is a nod to the saying paired with his image.
