Funny holidays - Day of the invention of sprats

A cold appetizer in the form of canned smoked fish in oil is a real hit of all times. It is prepared from sprat, herring and other representatives of the herring order. Latvia, Germany, Denmark and Norway cannot share the championship in terms of the invention of sprat. According to legend, the dish in the form of fish, placed in jars and covered in oil, first appeared on May 27, 1890 in Riga. This became the reason for the annual celebration of the Day of the Invention of Sprat. Canned food is prepared directly on fishing boats because transportation for processing on shore is a long and expensive process. On the floating base, the catch is washed in cold water. After this, the heads of the fish are separated, stored in special cabinets at a temperature of 150 degrees, placed in jars, filled with oil and preserved. Sprats, in addition to their piquant taste, have great benefits for the body: they contain a lot of protein, healthy fat, vitamins A, B1, B2, E, phosphorus, chromium and calcium. The product is quite high in calories, which means it is not suitable for people on a diet. In terms of the amount of amino acids they contain, sprats are in no way inferior to meat, which means they are suitable for vegetarians. In honor of canned smoked fish, not only holidays are celebrated, but also monuments are erected. Thus, in 2008, a marble table with a sculpture in the form of an open jar of sprats appeared in the Kaliningrad region in the town of Mamonovo. One of the fish jumping out of it has a crown on its head. In 2005, another monument was erected in Latvia in the form of a black can with a gold inscription: “Sprats: founded in 1892. Expiration date unlimited.” In honor of the holiday celebrated on May 27, connoisseurs of smoked fish in oil and spices visit thematic museums. One of them has long been opened in Stavanger in Norway - the ancient center of the canning industry. His factory has been supplying sprats to Russia since 1902. The quality products of Norwegian manufacturers were awarded a special Imperial Certificate. The museum in Stavanger not only invites visitors to explore its exhibition, but also to participate in the preparation of sprats. There is still debate about the benefits and harms of smoked canned fish. In Europe, it is simmered on fire in the old fashioned way. In order to reduce the cost of the product, manufacturers from the Russian Federation do not smoke herring and sprat, but use “liquid smoke” containing harmful benzopyrene. But, despite this, the treasured black and gold jar is purchased by gourmets for the table, both on weekdays and on holidays. Therefore, all lovers of small smoked fish caught in the Baltic Sea annually celebrate the Day of the Invention of Sprat on May 27th.