In Denmark and Sweden, snaps (pronounced[ˈsnaps]in Danish and Swedish) is a small shot of a strong alcoholic beverage taken during the course of a meal.
In Denmark, a snaps will always be akvavit, although there are many varieties of it. In Sweden, snaps is a more general term; it is usually akvavit, although it may also be vodka, bitters/bitter liqueurs or some other kind of brännvin/brændevin. Spirits such as whisky or brandy are seldom drunk as snaps. One of Finland's strongest alcohol drinks served with snaps is Marskin ryyppy, named after MarshalC. G. E. Mannerheim.[1]
The word "snaps" also has the same meaning as German Schnapps (German:[ʃnaps]), in the sense of "any strong alcoholic drink".[2]
Culture
Swedes, Danes and Swedish-speaking Finns have a tradition of singing songs (called snapsvisor) before drinking snaps. These snapsvisor are typically odes to the joys of drinking snaps. They may praise the flavour of snaps or express a craving for it.
Snaps and snapsvisor are essential elements of Swedish crayfish parties, which are notoriously tipsy affairs. Dozens of songs may be sung during such a party, and every song requires a round of snaps. However, the glass need not be emptied every time.
^Uola, Mikko: Marskin ryyppy: marsalkkamme juomakulttuuria chevalier-kaartista ylipäällikön ruokapöytään. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, 2002. ISBN951-746-385-5
^Haugen, Einar (1965). Norwegian-English Dictionary. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press. The definition given is "nip, schnaps; shot (of brandy, aquavit, etc.)."
