18 Aug 2022
- The big crawl: peak season for shellfish in Sweden
- Stay like a VIP: celebrity rooms in Swedish hotels
- Species protection for polka piggies: EU seal of approval for Sweden's famous candy canes
- Into autumn in style: Stockholm's major cultural highlights
- Happiness in the round: Sweden celebrates the day of the Meatball
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The big crawl: peak season for shellfish in Sweden
Photo: Anna Hållams/imagebank.sweden.se DOWNLOAD
Once again it will soon be time for crayfish in Sweden: the "Kräftskiva". The season of the crayfish party starts early August and lasts through until September. As with most things there´s a bit of a story behind all this: until 1994, crayfish fishing was only allowed from August to October. The fishermen eagerly awaited the starting signal on the first Wednesday in August and celebrated the fresh catch with a Kräftskiva (literally "crayfish table"). Today, this regulation no longer exists, but the tradition runs so deep that the Swedes continue to adhere to it. Then again, any excuse for a party during the last warm summer evenings.
It is mainly freshwater crayfish that are served at a crayfish party: crayfish/crawfish ("Flodkräfta") and signal crayfish ("Signalkräfta"), which occur in lakes and rivers throughout Sweden. But on the west coast of Sweden, which is rich in seafood, you also eat Norway lobster from the sea ("Havskräfta"). All these crustaceans are originally dark brown – perfectly camouflaged on the river and seabed – only take on their unmistakable red colour when cooked.
This red hue sets the tone for a crayfish party where blushing is a part of the experience for the guests, because afterall, a Kräftskiva is funny: The prescribed dress code is paper hats and bibs with crayfish motifs, and according to the motto "a crayfish, a schnapps, a song", every glass of Aquavit is accompanied by a drinking song.
In contrast to midsummer, where entire villages dance around a central pole, the Kräftskiva is celebrated in a small circle, around a table. For holidaymakers, restaurants and hotels in the south of the country have crayfish specials. In western Sweden , for example, Slipens Hotel, the Weather Islands and the Hotel Norrqvarn on the Göta Canal are good destinations for curious gourmets. In the popular region of Småland you can not only enjoy the shellfish, but also help catch them.
Even the capital Stockholm offers visitors culinary crayfish highlights. The Hotel Royal Park , in collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Niklas Ekstedt, promises an unforgettable crayfish party in Hagapark. And in the centrally located Hotel Hobo , tradition meets Far Eastern influences.
Further information: https://visitsweden.com/what-to-do/culture-history-and-art/swedish-traditions/more-traditions/crayfish-party/
Stay like a VIP: celebrity rooms in Swedish hotels
Photo: Tuukka Ervasti/imagebank.sweden.se DOWNLOAD
The Hotel Haymarket by Scandic in Sweden's capital Stockholm celebrated the premiere of the new "Elvis" film with a glamorous themed suite. Although this was only bookable until 15 July, the hotel is still filled with cinematic flair: the graceful design in Art Deco style takes guests back to the Roaring Twenties, and reminiscent of the actress Greta Garbo (1905-1990). The icon of Swedish film worked in the same building at a young age, when it was still a department store.
Häringe Castle on the Baltic Sea coast south of Stockholm also honours the screen legend and other celebrities: film stars, industrial magnates and eccentric personalities came and went with the host Axel Wenner-Gren, the founder of Electrolux. They celebrated, feasted and enjoyed many frivolous escapades. A round room was built especially for Greta Garbo, and other guest rooms are dedicated to Josephine Baker, Zarah Leander and Elizabeth Taylor.
Can it get more glamourous? The Grand Hôtel in Stockholm has rooms for very special occasions – including an Ingrid Bergman suite with a portrait of the "Casablanca" actress, a walk-in closet and decorative elements from the world of film.
The ice hotel in Swedish Lapland also promises superlative accommodation experiences. While some rooms there melt away in spring, "Icehotel 365" offers cool overnight accommodation all year round. The design suite "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was designed by none other than the Swedish Prince Carl Philip. With frozen flowers, he captures the clash of summer and winter in a uniquely poetic way. By the way, situated north of the Arctic Circle, it records its first sunset in several weeks on July 17. But, even in mid-August it is still light for 17 hours a day in the far north – almost three hours more than in London.Further information: https://visitsweden.com/search/?query=Hotel
Species protection for polka piggies: EU seal of approval for Sweden's famous candy canes
Photo: Tina Stafrén/imagebank.sweden.se DOWNLOAD
The traditional ones are red and white striped, have a peppermint flavour and stick, without paper protection, like hell to anything else nearby. Of course, other colours and flavours have been added over the years. Since 1859, Sweden's famous polkargrisar, colourful candy canes, which have now received the GGA seal for protected geographical indication from the EU, have been produced in the small town of Gränna on the eastern shore of Lake Vättern . The real Gränna polka pigs – the translated name – may therefore only be produced with certain ingredients in the Gränna region at the extreme northernmost tip of the Småland region, in Sweden.
The creator of the now internationally recognised snack was a 35-year-old single widow who, as a baker, needed an additional source of income and tried to produce and sell candy canes. We´ll never know for sure where the "polka piggy" got its name, but the polka was the most popular dance in many parts of Europe at that time in the middle of the 19th century. Her exuberance and work with sugar were welcome distractions from an often barren life at the time. A tribute to the history of the sugar-sweet pig is the dance festival that takes place every June in Gränna, where the polka is of course the focus of the lively celebrations. The longest polka pig made it into the Guinness Book of Records at 287 meters long: it has yet to be beaten.
Visitors to the pretty and romantic town opposite the island of Visingsö who not only want to buy the colourful sweet, but can also make it themselves, they can learn the necessary skills under instruction in the Wonka-esque factories of Franssons polkagriskokeri, Polkarpojkarna, Polkaprinsen, Grenna Polkagriskokeri and Gränna för gott. This is great fun for families with children; kneading, rolling and pulling the slug-like mass is great fun! A sugar-free version is available upon request.
Further information: https://www.visitsmaland.se/en/experiences/kids-and-family/candy
Into autumn in style: Stockholm's major cultural highlights
Photo: Margaret Bloom Sandebäck/imagebank.sweden.se (Download)
Even if we don't want to admit it at the moment, every summer comes to an end. How good that there are already bright spots for the time after the lazy bathing days. What better way to sweeten autumn than with a city trip? When Sweden's capital fills up again in mid-August with locals coming back from their holiday homes deeply relaxed, the calendar is already peppered with some cultural highlights.
Let's start with the Stockholm Cultural Festival (17-21 August), which returns with full energy after a two-year break. With free admission, the city offers over a hundred concerts, educational workshops, city tours, performances and many other events. Among others, the Swedish band The Hives will play on Saturday, August 20 – of course also for free. The varied programme covers six areas in the centre: Kungsträdgården, Skeppsbron and Norrbro, as well as sergels torg, Karl XII:s torg and Gustav Adolfs torg.
A few days later, Stockholm Fashion Week (31 August-2. September) under the motto "The new normal" daring fashion creations for the coming summer season. Traditionally, fashion week is attended by numerous designers and brands from Sweden, including Asket, Filippa K, Ida Sjöstedt and H&M Studio. The invitation to the fashion shows is mostly reserved for the professional audience, but the joy of fashion and the new collections in the shops spills over to the whole city.
And then the Stockholm Design Week (5-11 September) is all about stylish furniture and sustainable living trends. More than 50 Nordic manufacturers, brands and design studios present their latest ideas in showrooms, galleries, launch parties and cocktail receptions. These events are also primarily aimed at buyers, architects, designers and journalists. From 8 to 10 September, however, a parallel programme called "Open Space" will take place, giving the public rare insights into Stockholm studios. Tickets for lectures and guided tours will be available from 15 August.
Speaking of beautiful furniture: the famous Shop Svenskt Tenn proves its good taste once again in autumn when it opens a new café on the picturesque Strandvägen. "We have developed a kind of Swedish bentobox for this purpose," says restaurateur Petter Nilsson. "From the varied menu with many plant-based products, guests put together their own meal according to their wishes and appetite."
By the way: If you want to travel to Sweden in late summer, you can do so in an environmentally friendly and comfortable way by night train . On four dates (5, 9, 12 and 16 September) the railway company runs Snälltåget in about 20 hours directly from Dresden to Stockholm. Travellers from Hamburg can also do this comfortably from 1 September with the night train of the Swedish railway SJ .
Further Information: https://www.visitstockholm.com/see-do/attractions/upcoming-events/
Happiness in the round: Sweden celebrates the day of the Meatball
Photo: Lieselotte van der Meijs/imagebank.sweden.se (DOWNLOAD)
The culinary calendar of the Swedes is particularly well filled in the second half of the year: Then specialties such as crayfish, surströmming, cinnamon roll and also the famous meatballs are dedicated to their own theme days. The "Day of the Köttbullar" is august 23 (Sweden connoisseurs know, of course, that the word "Schöttbullar" is pronounced). Whether for a breather in the furniture store or in a trendy restaurant with home cooking, whether classic beef or pork or in the vegetarian version: The Nordic national dish of hearty balls, mashed potatoes, an irresistible cream sauce and sour cranberries is always possible.
By the way, the first officially preserved recipe comes from a historical cookbook: Cajsa Warg's "Tools in the Household for Young Women's Rooms" from 1755. However, the tradition is likely to be much longer. One theory is that the Swedish King Charles XII (1682-1718) brought the inspiration for the dish in the early 18th century from the Ottoman Empire, i.e. today's Turkey. Other nutrition historians assume that so-called "meatballs" were already cooked in Sweden before. But whether self-creation or culinary import: In Sweden's average households, the meatballs did not find their way in until the middle of the 19th century anyway, after two essential aids – namely meat grinder and wood oven – were available in most kitchens. And of course, many regional variations have developed over time. One of the most popular and traditional recipes for homemade Köttbullar can be found on visitsweden.de. If you want to prepare the dish meatless, you can either buy a vegan or vegetarian minced meat substitute in the supermarket or prepare a mixture of lentils, mushrooms and oatmeal yourself . The Swedish national dish tastes best in its natural habitat. Visit Sweden offers corresponding restaurant tips from Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.
Further Information: https://visitsweden.com/what-to-do/food-drink/swedish-kitchen/best-swedish-meatballs-and-where-get-them/
If you have questions or are interested in press trips to the above, please contact:
Steve Robertshaw, Senior PR Manager
Visit Sweden, 5 Upper Montagu St., London, W1H 2AG, UK
+44 (0)7494 517 223
Email: steve.robertshaw@visitsweden.com Web: www.visitsweden.com
Press Room: https://press-uk.visitsweden.com/
Image Bank: www.imagebank.sweden.se
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Your invitation to experience our unique lifestyle, progressive culture, accessible nature, local food culture and innovative mindset. We want visiting Sweden to be about creating value, for you as our guest, for the local community and the planet.
In 2022, for the second year in a row, Sweden was listed as the most sustainable country in the world by Euromonitor International in its Sustainable Travel Index, as well as once again ranking number one in the Good Country Index, a measure of what countries contribute to the world outside their borders, and what they take away: their balance-sheet towards humanity and the planet.
