Crayfish parties, known as kräftskiva in Swedish, are a beloved late-summer tradition in Sweden and parts of Finland.
They involve lots of crayfish, long tables covered in paper cloth, red and yellow paper lanterns, especially ones featuring the “crayfish moon” (a smiling moon face), bibs, funny conical hats, silly songs and typically copious amounts of alcohol.
The crayfish party itself is often held outdoors, in gardens or at summer cottages.
Boiled crayfish are served cold with dill crowns, accompanied by Västerbotten cheese pies, bread and schnapps (shots of aquavit or similar). The vibe is informal, fun and often boisterous. Drinking songs (called snapsvisor) are sung before taking a sip of schnapps.
Swedes having fun.
Crayfish have been eaten in Sweden since at least the 1500s, but the tradition of kräftskiva as a communal event began to take shape in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Crayfish fishing was historically regulated in Sweden, with a season beginning in early August. This created a sense of anticipation – people had to wait all year to enjoy this delicacy. Initially, crayfish were considered a luxury, served at lavish dinners for the upper class. By the late 1800s, however, improved transportation and farming (particularly the spread of the signal crayfish after the native species was hit by disease) made crayfish more accessible to the general public.
As crayfish eating became more democratic, it turned into a festivity. By the 1920s and 1930s, people were hosting outdoor crayfish parties – complete with aforementioned paraphernalia. By the1930s, the kräftskiva becomes a more widespread phenomenon throughout Sweden, aided by urbanisation and the growing middle class. Even Swedish embassies abroad begin hosting crayfish parties to showcase cultural heritage. In the 1980s–90s, crayfish parties gained popularity outside Sweden, particularly in areas with large Swedish expat communities. IKEA even began selling crayfish party kits, further globalising the tradition.
Kräftskiva remains a staple of Swedish summer culture. It’s as much about marking the end of summer as it is about the sharing food and drink with family and friends.
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References
wikipedia.org/wiki/Crayfish_party
visitsweden.com
danieljacobson.info/ikea-japan-crayfish-party
imagebank.sweden.se
Images
1. Crayfish Party by lake. Credits: Anna Hållams/imagebank.sweden.se
2. Langoustine from West Sweden. Credits: Tina Stafrén/imagebank.sweden.se
3. Map of Sweden. Credit: imagebank.sweden.se
4. Crayfish. Credits: Cecilia Larsson Lantz/imagebank.sweden.se
5. Crayfish party. Credits: Carolina Romare/imagebank.sweden.se
6. Slice of Västerbotten cheese pie. Credit: ingmar.app
7. Traditional crayfish party at Wallby Säteri, Småland. Credits: Patrik Svedberg/imagebank.sweden.se
8. Crayfish party in Japan. Credit: Daniel Jacobson
9. Remo worse for wear after one too many snaps at a crayfish party in Gothenburg on 10 August 2019
