Crayfish in Sweden - when, what and why?

Updated: October 2026 | Crayfish feast in Sweden is a beloved tradition with crayfish, dill, funny hats and maybe the occasional schnapps song. But when is it really time for crayfish feast? What do we usually eat and drink – and why do we celebrate in this special way? We have delved into the history of crayfish feast and Swedish traditions.

Crayfish party in Sweden

A Swedish crayfish party is a fantastic opportunity to socialize, eat well and behave a little ”super Swedish and strange”. For someone who grew up with the tradition, it may feel completely natural to put on a paper hat, hang up a happy moon boy and sing before the schnapps – but for a visitor from another country, it can all seem quite exotic.

We like crayfish and other shellfish and enjoy eating them in late summer and autumn. But how old is the tradition? When was the classic crayfish premiere? And why is it called crayfish at all?disc?

1. How long have we been eating crayfish in Sweden?

In Sweden, crayfish have been eaten at least since the 16th century. This is known, among other things, because crayfish are mentioned in a letter from Erik XIV to the bailiff on Nyköpingshus year 1562. In the letter, the king orders that as many crayfish as possible be obtained for his sister Anna's upcoming wedding.

Erik XIV also had crayfish grown in the moats at Kalmar Castle. During the 17th century, eating crayfish became popular among the upper classes, while it would take considerably longer before crayfish became a popular festive food in Sweden.

2. Why do we eat crayfish in Sweden?

It was primarily the "finfolk" in Sweden who picked up the habit of eating crayfish from the continent, where crayfish were an exclusive food. Previously, crayfish had been eaten by monks during Lent, as they could serve as a variation on fish.

Crayfish eating was therefore originally far from the popular Swedish tradition that we associate with late summer today.

3. How did people eat crayfish in Sweden in the past?

In the past, crayfish were not eaten whole and cold in the way we often do today. In older cookbooks, crayfish appear instead in various dishes. For example, in Cajsa Warg's cookbook from the 18th century, there are recipes for crayfish cake and crayfish sausage.

Over time, people also started eating the crayfish whole. At first they were served hot, but in the latter part of the 19th century it became popular to let the crayfish cool and serve them cold with spade and dill. In other words, it began to resemble today's crayfish eating.

4. When do you eat crayfish in Sweden?

Today, you can buy and eat crayfish year-round, but traditionally they are primarily associated with August and late summer.

The background is, among other things, the old rules for crayfish fishing. For a long period, crayfish were not allowed to be fished for parts of the year, and fishing was only allowed to begin in August. This created a long-awaited ”crayfish premiere”, which still lives on in our way of thinking about the crayfish season.

5. When is the crayfish premiere?

There used to be a statutory crayfish premiere in Sweden. For a period, crayfish fishing was allowed to begin on August 7 at 5:00 p.m. In 1982, the regulations were changed so that fishing could begin at 5:00 p.m. on the first Wednesday in August.

In 1994, the general ban on crayfish fishing was abolished. As a result, there is no longer a general, statutory crayfish season in Sweden, although the concept lives on and many people still associate eating crayfish with the beginning of August.

6. When is the crayfish feast?

There is no set date when you ”should” have crayfish. August is the classic crayfish month, but crayfish dishes are available throughout late summer and even into the fall.

For us, crayfish are especially good when the evenings are starting to get a little darker, but it's still warm enough to sit outside. Preferably with lots of dill on the table!

7. Why do we have crayfish in Sweden?

Today's crayfish platter has several historical roots. During the 19th century, interest in crayfish increased at the same time as crayfish fishing was regulated. The long-awaited crayfish premiere contributed to making crayfish eating a special event during late summer.

At the same time, festive crayfish meals were common in bourgeois circles. These eventually developed into what we recognize today as crayfish platters – with whole cold crayfish, drinks and a festive atmosphere.

8. When did the tradition of crayfish dishes begin?

In the 19th century, crayfish were still primarily eaten in wealthy circles, and there were festive crayfish suppers. Then something happened that would have great significance for Swedish crayfish. In 1907, crayfish plague was discovered in Sweden. The disease hit the Swedish crayfish population hard and has continued to be a major problem ever since.

From the late 1960s and especially during the 1970s, imported crayfish became increasingly common on Swedish tables. Among other things, large quantities of Turkish crayfish were imported. When crayfish became more available, more Swedes were also able to participate in the crayfish feast.

Today's crayfish platter took shape during the first decades of the 20th century, and during the 1930s the word "crayfish platter" became established.

Another important change came in the 1960s, when the signal crayfish began to be released into Swedish waters as a replacement for the river crayfish. The signal crayfish is more resistant to crayfish plague but can also carry and spread the disease. Today, the signal crayfish is classified as an invasive alien species within the EU.

9. Why is it called "crayfish slice"?

No, ”tabletop” does not actually refer to the tabletop! The word disc was used during the 20th century as slang for a party, and could also have the somewhat derogatory meaning of ”supfest.” Over time, the word kräftskiva began to compete with older terms such as kräftfest and kräftkalas.

Today, few people think about the original meaning. A crayfish platter can of course be as calm – or lively – as you want.

10. Who wrote "Crayfish require these drinks"?

When Sweden voted to ban intoxicants in 1922, crayfish were used as an argument in the election campaign. Artist and writer Albert Engström created the famous poster with the text:

”Cancers demand these drinks!” The poster thus campaigned for the no side in the referendum on the prohibition of intoxicants. The no side won by a narrow margin and a total ban was never introduced. We have seen the classic poster ourselves at Albert Engström's museum in Grisslehamn.

11. What do you eat at a traditional Swedish crayfish feast?

At a crayfish platter in Sweden, you eat crayfish – of course. They can be river crayfish or signal crayfish, and on the west coast, it is also common to eat sea crayfish.

The crayfish are traditionally cooked in a mixture of water, salt and plenty of dill. Sugar may also be included and recipes vary.

Common accompaniments are bread or crispbread, butter and cheese, preferably Västerbotten cheese or another tasty cheese. Västerbotten pie is also a real crayfish slice classic. Those who want can complement it with, for example, aioli, sandwiches or other small dishes.

12. How do you eat crayfish at a crayfish boil?

If you are used to eating crayfish the Swedish way, it may seem obvious, but for someone who has never done it before, crayfish can seem both awkward and a little scary. One way to do it is:

1. Feel free to soak up some of the flavorful liquid.
2. Break off the claws and legs.
3. Crack the claws with a crayfish knife, nutcracker or your teeth and scoop out the meat.
4. Break off the head. Anyone who wants can eat the tasty ”crab butter”.
5. Remove the shell from the tail.
6. Pull off the gut, the dark string along the tail.
7. Eat the crayfish tail – the reward after all the hard work!

And yes, it's messy. That's part of it.

13. What can you eat at a crayfish feast if you are a vegetarian?

If you are a vegetarian, or simply don't like crayfish, there are of course many other options. A fun alternative is boiled whole artichokes. Just like crayfish, they involve some fiddling at the table, and they go well with butter or aioli, for example.

Pies, bread, cheese, salads and other vegetarian side dishes also go well with a crayfish platter.

14. What do you drink at a traditional Swedish crayfish party?

Traditional drinks on the crayfish platter are beer and schnapps, which is a spiced brandy. But today, of course, all kinds of drinks are served, such as wine, sparkling wine, cider and non-alcoholic alternatives.

For us, it is above all the combination of good food, good company and a long evening around the table that is the real deal.

15. How do you set the table for a crayfish dinner in Sweden?

Crayfish and dill are decorative in themselves, so there's not really much need for garnish. But if you want to go all-in on the Swedish crayfish platter, there are plenty to choose from.

There are tablecloths, napkins, garlands, streamers, bibs, hats, paper lanterns and table decorations with crayfish motifs. The table setting can be anything from stylish to totally kitschy – and we think you can be a little extra playful on a crayfish platter.

16. Why is there a moon on the crayfish plate?

One of the most classic decorations for the crab platter is the paper lantern with a large, happy moon.

It's not surprising that lanterns are associated with the crayfish platter. The festival is associated with late summer, when the evenings start to get dark, and in the past, lighting was simply needed when sitting outside and eating crayfish. Before electric lighting became common, kerosene lamps and later paper lanterns were used.

Why the smiling moon man became the classic motif of the crayfish plate is not as well documented, however. Sometimes it's actually better to let a tradition retain a little mystery than to make up a good story about it.

17. How does a crayfish party work in Sweden?

A crayfish feast is usually a happy and fairly informal party. People sit around the table for a long time because it takes time to peel and eat the crayfish, and it is perfectly acceptable to both smear and slurp.

Some have funny hats and bibs. Those who want to drink schnapps, and sometimes the eating is interrupted for a schnapps song or two. But of course there are no rules for how a modern crayfish feast must be. The most important thing is the crayfish – or other good food – and having a good time together.

18. What songs are sung at the crayfish party?

It happens that someone puts together a whole songbook for the krayfskid. The songs that are sung vary, but the most famous Swedish snaps song is of course ”The whole thing is going”.

Many schnapps songs are also based on melodies from well-known nursery rhymes and traditional songs. And schnapps songs are perfectly fine to sing even if the glass contains something non-alcoholic!

19. In which countries do they have crayfish feasts?

The crayfish feast is primarily a Swedish tradition, but similar crayfish feasts also occur in Finland, not least among Finnish Swedes. There are also traditions surrounding crayfish feasts in Norway, which can be called crayfish team. Crayfish are also eaten in many other parts of the world, but the traditions are different.

20. How do you eat crayfish in other countries?

Crayfish are found in many food cultures around the world. In France, crayfish are used in classic dishes and sauces, and they can also be found together with other shellfish.

A particularly exciting crayfish tradition can be found in Louisiana and other parts of the southern United States. There, crawfish boil a great social food tradition. The crayfish are cooked together with spices and often ingredients such as corn, potatoes and sausage and then served in large quantities to the whole party.

So there are more people than just us Swedes who think that small red shellfish are an excellent reason to gather friends and family around a table!

What is your relationship with crayfish dishes?

Did you grow up with crayfish platters? Do you usually arrange one yourself or are you invited to a crayfish platter? And what is most important on the table for you – the crayfish, the Västerbotten pie, the schnapps songs or maybe something else entirely?

For us, the crayfish platter is above all a nice way to bring people together around something really good – and we definitely wouldn't say no to a plate full of crayfish and dill!