Traditionally, Kräftskiva parties in Sweden are held in August, as the annual harvesting of crayfish in Sweden was limited to late summer, but my host family waited until September to host their Kräftskiva party so I could join in, and wow, am I glad they did! One of the most magical things about being in Sweden for four months and living with a local family, rather than simply going somewhere on vacation, is being invited into their day-to-day lives and traditions, especially when they involve food!
One of the most unique aspects of a kräftskiva is that the people at the gathering take little breaks during the meal to sing traditional snapsivas (songs) together as a group.
Anna-Karin and Janne's kräftskiva party included a smörgåsboard of fresh seafood, including oysters, shrimp, crab, and both freshwater (smaller) and ocean (larger) crayfish. There was also a cheese pie similar made from Västerbotten cheese, a salty hard cheese made exclusively in northern Sweden and considered the "king of cheeses" by many Swedes. The crust was flaky, while the filling was similar to a very savory cheesecake.
