A Sad-Faced Toy for a Happy New Year
This is one gift horse you might want to look in the mouth. A factory error turned a simple Chinese New Year toy into the latest must-have collectible.
According to the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Horse begins on February 17, 2026. Preparations are underway for the coming New Year, with plenty of decorations, gifts, and toys available for sale. While most of them carry conventional themes of optimism and wishes for good luck and prosperity in the coming year, one Year of the Horse toy is capturing hearts with its surprisingly sad expression.
A manufacturing error meant the plush horse’s mouth was accidentally sewn on upside down, making it look like it’s frowning, even crying. The error went unnoticed as the toys were sent to Yiwu International Trade City, a wholesale market in Zhejiang province, China. Zhang Huoqing, who owns a shop in Yiwu called Happy Sister, told Reuters that she offered her customers a refund after she spotted the horse’s unfortunate frown, but none took her up on it. Instead, the sad-faced toy flew off store shelves as pictures went viral online.
The horse’s popularity has drawn comparisons to another unconventionally adorable Chinese collectible that became a social media sensation: Labubu. But the situation isn’t quite the same. The Labubu craze is partly fueled by the toy’s blind box packaging, which turns the simple act of buying a toy into a thrilling game of chance and makes rare varieties even harder to find.
Even though the sad-faced version was initially a factory error, its mass appeal keeps it in production, so it isn’t any rarer or more expensive than the standard smiling toy. Both versions are available in four sizes, ranging from about 7 3/4 in. to 15 3/4 in. Based on online listings, any of the varieties can be bought for under $20.
Nicknamed “Cry-Cry Horse,” the toy now has its own website, which describes its creation as “a happy accident” and its appeal as “authentic emotion in plush form.” It is especially popular among young adults with office jobs, who see it as a mascot for workplace stress. The Chinese characters embroidered in golden thread on the toy, which translate to a traditional New Year’s wish that the recipient may get rich, can’t hurt here, either.
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