Increase your luck with Lunar New Year food offerings

CONCORD, CA — Certain foods eaten during the Lunar New Year are considered lucky, and you can stock up on many good options at the farmers market.

Whether you desire prosperity, health, happiness or new beginnings, these foods symbolize good things for the coming year. “Out with the old and in with the new.”

Around the world, cultures attach many layers of meaning to these lucky foods, which include egg rolls, citrus, noodles, fish and greens.

The preparation and presentation of these foods is part of the tradition. Fish and chicken are eaten whole; oranges and tangerines are served with leaf and stem attached; noodles are prepared without breaking them; and raisins are eaten before midnight.

Whole fish: In Asian countries, it is important to eat whole fish with head and tail attached to ensure a good year, from start to finish. In Germany, eating pickled herring ensures a year of bounty.

Spring rolls/dumplings: The Chinese make them with minced pork, cabbage, carrots and other vegetables. It is said that the more you eat, the more money you can make during the year ahead. Papa’s Dumpling will have your lucky dumplings at the Concord market.

Honey: This sweet nectar is believed to bring good luck and wealth to you and your family.

Leafy greens: The green color symbolizes paper money. Think kale, spinach, lettuce and chard for the new year. Parsley is supposed to ward off evil for the coming year. In the southern United States, the saying goes, “Peas for pennies, greens for dollars and cornbread for gold.”

Longevity noodles: These long noodles symbolize long life and should never be broken when cooking. You can use many varieties of pasta to ensure good luck in life.

Sticky rice cakes: In Asia, rice cakes symbolize prosperity in all your endeavors. The main ingredients are sticky rice, sugar, chestnuts, Chinese dates and lotus leaves.

Oranges, pomelos and tangerines: These are the most common symbols of the Lunar New Year. Their golden color is believed to attract good fortune and success. Their round shape reminds us of coins and also refers to the old year rolling into a fresh new one. It’s even more auspicious with the stem and a leaf attached. Farmers market shoppers can find loads of citrus from J&J Ramos Farm in Hughson.

Broccoli and cauliflower: For a blossoming year of wealth and prosperity, eat broccoli and cauliflower. It’s a good way to begin eating healthy for the year, too. As with the greens, these cruciferous veggies symbolize good fortune and money. The market offers broccoli, greens and cauliflower from J&M Farms of Hollister.

Whole chicken: Presented like with the fish, it means family togetherness – the “whole” family. Families will also offer chicken to deceased ancestors for blessings and protection.

Raisins: Spanish tradition calls for eating 12 grapes or raisins just before midnight, one at each chime of the clock. This will bring good fortune for all 12 months of the year, as long as you finish all 12 before the final stroke. Find dried fruits and nuts from Winters Fruit Tree.

There are many more food traditions and superstitions that purportedly bring good luck throughout the world. There is ha’penny pudding in Great Britain, poutine in Canada, Cornish pasties in South Africa, black-eyed peas and cornbread in the southern United States, ceviche in Ecuador, tamales in Mexico, pork in the Midwestern United States and China, and so many others.

Enjoy your own traditional lucky new year foods as I wish you a prosperous and happy year ahead.

Visit the Pacific Coast Farmers Market online at www.pcfma.org