A snapsvisa (
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
, plural: snapsvisor) is a traditional
Scandinavian
drinking song, which is often sung before drinking a small shot of
spirit that is called a ''
snaps
Snaps ( ) is a Danish and Swedish word for a small shot of a strong alcoholic beverage taken during the course of a meal. A ritual that is associated with drinking snaps is a tradition in Scandinavia, especially in Denmark and Sweden, where it ...
''.
A typical snapsvisa is a short, vigorous song; its lyrics usually tell of the delicacy and glory of the drink, or of the singer’s craving for
snaps
Snaps ( ) is a Danish and Swedish word for a small shot of a strong alcoholic beverage taken during the course of a meal. A ritual that is associated with drinking snaps is a tradition in Scandinavia, especially in Denmark and Sweden, where it ...
. Snapsvisor are short, bright, and easy to learn. The most well-known snapsvisa in Sweden is
Helan Går.
Snapsvisor are an important part of traditional and family festivities in
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
,
Norway,
Denmark, and among
Swedish-speaking Finns. The singing of these drinking songs is also a lively part of Scandinavian student culture. In some cases universities even have detailed explanations for foreign students on how to sing during formal dinners.
They are also widespread among monolingually Finnish students in
Finland, although they are rarely met with elsewhere in Finnish
drinking culture.
See also
*
Drinking culture
*
Drinking song
*
Snaps
Snaps ( ) is a Danish and Swedish word for a small shot of a strong alcoholic beverage taken during the course of a meal. A ritual that is associated with drinking snaps is a tradition in Scandinavia, especially in Denmark and Sweden, where it ...
*
Helan går
References
{{Reflist
External links
Drinking song – snapsvisaDrinking songs at The Historical Museum of Wines and Spirits
Drinking songs
Alcohol in Sweden
Swedish folk songs
Songs about alcohol