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In the Nordic countries, especially Denmark and Sweden, but not in Iceland, snaps (Template:Small {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, Template:Langx), among many nicknames, 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 for any small amount of "liquor"; although usually brännvin, it may also be other spirits, such as vodka, bitters/bitter liqueurs, whisky or brandy etc. In Norway, a more common name is the synonym dram (from the unit of the same name).<ref name="ordbokene snaps">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ordbokene drma">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> One of Finland's strongest alcohol drinks served as snaps is Marskin ryyppy, named after Marshal C. G. E. Mannerheim.<ref>Uola, Mikko: Marskin ryyppy: marsalkkamme juomakulttuuria chevalier-kaartista ylipäällikön ruokapöytään. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, 2002. Template:ISBN</ref>
The word "snaps" also has the same meaning as German Schnapps ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}), in the sense of "any strong alcoholic drink".<ref>Template:Cite book The definition given is "nip, schnaps; shot (of brandy,
aquavit, etc.)."</ref>
CultureEdit
Snaps shantiesEdit
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Swedes, Danes and Swedish-speaking Finns have a tradition of singing songs, called snapsvisor ("snaps shanties"), before drinking snaps. These songs are typically odes to the joys of drinking snaps. They may praise the flavour of snaps or express a craving for it.
FestivitiesEdit
Snaps and snapsvisor are essential elements of Swedish festivities involving food, especially Midsummer and crayfish parties (Template:Langx), 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.
NicknamesEdit
Another subculture are the many nicknames for snaps, some of which might be regional. Some names are heavily associated with certain phrases used in conjunction with snaps drinking.