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The
Crayfish Premiere |
Kräftpremiären
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The
crayfish premiere occurs in August, and visitors to Sweden this
month can hardly help noting Swedes' delight in these small
crustaceans. Before the turn of the last century hardly any
traditions were attached to the eating of crayfish, but when
crayfish fishing seasons and a "season premier" or
opening date were established, the feasting took on the air of a
festival. Nowadays the season opens on the second Wednesday
in August, and crayfish may be sold and served in restaurants the
following day. Excessive fishing and widespread disease have
reduced Swedish crayfish populations, and Sweden imports
increasing volumes of deep-frozen, ready-to-eat crayfish from
abroad.
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The
evening of the premiere or some evening during the weeks
following, friends gather on terraces and balconies all around
Sweden under gaily colored paper lanterns to feast on the little
delicacies. Many don comic party hats and paper bibs before
attacking the heaped-up platters. Accompaniments to
crayfish, boiled in salt-water and seasoned with flowering dill,
are simply bread and cheese, beer and perhaps aquavit. There
is a wide variety of songs to accompany the feasting. This
is a very Swedish festivity.
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Source:
"Traditional Festivities in Sweden"; Author: Ingemar
Liman; Published by: The Swedish Institute, ISBN 91-520-0113-X
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