Celebrating Crayfish in Finland
Crayfish parties are usually held in August or September to mark the end of summer in Finland. The relaxed and cheerful atmosphere at the dinners is enhanced by songs, often with humorous contemporary lyrics that appear to be about anything and everything – from appreciation of the magnificent crayfish to the beauty of Finnish women.
The Finnish tradition of arranging a party dedicated to feasting on boiled crayfish originates from Swedish and Russian high society, who at the beginning of the 20th century, indulged in the abundantly available crayfish when visiting Finnish resorts. Later, crayfishing season was limited to a couple of months to prevent over-fishing which led to the development of crayfish as a sought-after delicacy.
If you’re not invited to a crayfish party in Finland, you’ll have to make do with public spaces.
The most popular crayfish restaurant in Finland is NJK in Helsinki which serves over 30 000 crayfish each year. NJK is located on the small Valkosaari Island and is a three-minute ferry ride from the Helsinki city center.
Restaurant Sipuli in Helsinki will be hosting a special Crayfish Festival on August 26 – 28, 2009. You can also enjoy your crayfish to live jazz music on August 20 and 27, 2009, at Kulosaaren Casino.
Country holiday destinations will organize crayfishing trips, preparing dinner from your own catch. Two places are Holiday Cottages.
