Autumn festivities
The first Monday after 20 September marks the start of lobster season – a day that many on Rörö count down to all year long. At dawn, the lanterns in the harbour are lit, the boats chug out to sea and the traps are lowered into the calm waters. The smell of salt and seaweed mixes with diesel and coffee, and anticipation hangs thick over the lake.
Lobster fishing has deep roots in coastal life and is a tradition that combines work, pride and patience. During the summer, mackerel has been caught and salted in barrels to become kubemad, and now it is finally time to see if the wait has been worth it. On Rörö, the premiere is more than a hunt for the black gold of the sea – it is a meeting between generations and a reminder of how strongly life here has always been tied to the sea.
It is not only the fishermen who are on alert when the season opens. The sea rescue service is ready, as always, in case something happens out at sea. Nowadays, safety is an integral part of the tradition – life jackets, waterproof mobile phone cases and keeping an eye on the weather are all part of the routine. This has not always been the case, but today pride and caution go hand in hand as autumn’s big celebration gets underway.
When the first lobster is finally pulled out of the water and glistens black in the morning light, that quiet joy that only those who live near the sea truly understand descends. Then you know that autumn has really begun.