SVENSK KRÄFTSKIVA

Kräftskiva, or Swedish Crayfish Party, is a Swedish tradition that takes place throughout the month of August every year. Crayfish have been a delicacy in Sweden since the 16th century. August became a month of crayfish feasts, where millions of Swedes partake in mass quantities of crawfish as a celebration of the opening of the season
At a typical Kräftskiva, many Swedes will gather to eat mass quantities of crayfish, marinated in dill, and take snaps (shots) while singing drinking songs until the wee hours of the morning. Swedes will often attend many a Kräftskiva during the month of August. The parties always take place outdoors, and are accompanied by all types of festive crayfish decorations, man-in-the-moon decorative lanterns, crawfish hats and bibs.

The typical crawfish party lasts many hours, from mid-day often until dawn the next morning. In the early afternoon, people play outdoor games such as Boule (similar to Bocce). Then the crawfish are served! The host will usually lead the guest in a rousing rendition of Helan Går, (a drinking song that loosely translated means "here comes the first one"), followed by everyone sucking the dill out of the body of their crawfish, and taking a snaps of Aqvavit. This continues for hours, though the songs will usually change. After everyone has had their fill of snaps and crayfish, dessert is served - usually a fruit like strawberries and cream, or maybe a slice of cake. Afterward, everyone drinks some more, and usually ends up skinny dipping in a nearby lake......