Helan går
Swedish schnapps song: everyone sings first, then the table downs the shot.
Easy
Players
3+
Length
5-15 min
Intensity
Solid
How to play
Origin: Helan går is the best known Swedish snapsvisa and has been sung since the early 19th century. It comes before the first schnapps at kräftskiva, midsummer and the Christmas table. The title roughly means: the whole one goes down.
Setup: Small glasses for everyone, filled with schnapps, aquavit or cold juice for the alcohol free version.
How to play:
- A lead singer raises their glass and starts the song
- Everyone stands and sings along, glasses stay up
- After the last line the table shouts: skål
- Look around the table, drink, then look around again
Drinking:
- Helan: the whole glass
- Halvan, the second song: whatever is left
- Drink too early and you sing the next verse alone
Order: Traditionally Halvan går follows Helan går. After that, take a break.