Crayfish party

{{Short description|Scandinavian tradition linked to crayfish harvest regulations}}

File:Kräftskiva, Häringe slott, 1991.jpg, Sweden 1991.]]

File:Cooked crayfish with dill.jpg in the traditional manner.]]

File:Crawfish party or kräftskiva.jpg

A crayfish party ({{langx|sv|kräftskiva}} {{IPA|sv|ˈkrɛ̂ftˌɧiːva|}}) is a traditional summertime eating and drinking celebration in the Nordic countries. The tradition, originating in Sweden, has also spread to Finland via its Swedish-speaking population{{cite web |publisher=Finnguide |url=http://www.finnguide.fi/calendar/calendarevents.asp?month=8&p=61 |title=Finnish Crayfish Party |accessdate=January 31, 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060310102351/http://www.finnguide.fi/calendar/calendarevents.asp?month=8&p=61 |archivedate=March 10, 2006 }} and Norway. {{citation needed span|date=March 2023|text=A similar tradition exists in the Baltic countries, in particular in Lithuania and Latvia.}}

Crayfish parties are generally held during August, a tradition that began because the crayfish harvest in Sweden was, for most of the 20th century, legally limited to the late summer.{{cite web |author=Po Tidhom |year=2004 |url=http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/CommonPage____11371.aspx |title=The Crayfish Party |publisher=The Swedish Institute |accessdate=January 29, 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204020249/http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/CommonPage____11371.aspx |archivedate=February 4, 2009}} Nowadays, the {{lang|sv|kräftpremiär}} date in early August has no legal significance. Customary party accessories are novelty paper hats, paper tablecloths, paper lanterns (often depicting the Man in the Moon), and bibs.

{{lang|sv|Akvavit}} and other kinds of {{lang|sv|snaps}} are served, as well as beer, and traditional drinking songs ({{lang|sv|snapsvisa}}) may be sung.{{cite book |author=Christina Johansson Robinowitz & Lisa Werner Carr |title=Modern-Day Vikings: A Practical Guide to Interacting with the Swedes |publisher=Intercultural Press |year=2001 |isbn=1-877864-88-9 |page=123 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MAn641nHfrYC&pg=PA123}} The crayfish are boiled in salt water and seasoned with fresh dill – preferably "crown dill" harvested after the plant has flowered – then served cold and eaten with the fingers. Bread, mushroom pies, strong Västerbotten cheese, salads and other dishes are served buffet-style.