Image courtesy of http://farflungyoungs.com

To celebrate the end of summer and the coming of fall, when
the nights are getting darker but are still warm, Swedes get together with family and friends for the traditional
crayfish party.

The party gathers around long tables decorated with brightly coloured tablecloths, paper lamps and ornaments, to enjoy a buffet of steamed crayfish, bread, cheese, pie and litres of Snaps. Every guest is adorned with a bib and a special paper hat.

The crayfish party is a loud and joyous event.  With every shot of snaps a traditional tune selected from the song book that is handed out upon arrival, has to be sung.

Every local and foreigner that experiences a crayfish party will
soon realise that this boisterous event is often capped off with a long-lasting hangover….