Finland is cold, it’s covered in wood and it’s where people love to feel completely revitalized. Is it any surprise to hear then that for the people of Finland their favorite place in the world is in their sauna?
For those of you who don’t know, a sauna is the equivalent of sitting on the surface of the sun for about an hour or so. It’s hot, it’s steamy and it’ll even make your sweat sweat. It cleans your entire body by drawing out all the toxins and sweat and opens your skin’s pours to bring in more oxygen. They are known to help people with rheumatic pains, they can help to alleviate skin problems such as psoriasis and even help with the common cold.
The history of saunas worldwide is as hazy as their heat but there is strong evidence to show that the Fins were the first to pioneer the use of saunas and regularly use them for recreation. Dates go back as far as 5th Century, when they were thought to have been dug into hills underground. The design of above-ground wooden huts appeared shortly afterwards, when the right tools were available. Fins originally lived in the sauna hut. It was a multi purpose dwelling. Sleeping, cooking, cleaning and even giving birth could all be done under one roof.
The heat was originally generated by a wooden fire that heated large stones and filled the room with smoke and steam. When the heat was enough, the smoke would be bellowed out leaving the room smoke-free but still piping hot. These non-chimney saunas were soon replaced with new models that had the ability to circulate air more efficiently and take much less time to heat and maintain. However many Fins still insist on the old smoke saunas, as they feel they give a better experience.
Almost every single Finnish household has a sauna. They are considered a vital part of daily life. People meet for chats in saunas, have time with their families, conduct business meetings, wind down after a day at work and even give birth. Traditionally most people pop in for a session in their saunas on a Saturday. Families treat their sauna in much the same way that people in other (hotter) parts of the world treat their swimming pool. Instead of a quick dip, it’s more like a quick sweat, then a cool down in the lake, then maybe a sausage (makkara) and a beer, then back in the sauna for more sweating.
Finnish saunas have never been considered sexual places and, although most of the time people are naked or at least wearing very little clothing, there is nothing venereal about the experience. Saunas have now spread all over the world and many bear little resemblance to the fairy tale ones in Finland. But few will be able to match the ancient and beautifully crafted saunas in Finland. They are just as hot today as they were when they were first built.
Photo of Finnish sauna originally posted by MiikaS
Topic: General Travel |
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Tags: Finland, Northern Europe, wellness
About the author
Phil is a freelance writer working on various writing and editing projects ranging from feature film scripts to travel writing. He enjoys writing from experience and sharing information on the many places he has visited over the years
One response to “The History of Finnish Saunas”
Report an inappropriate commentOctober 27th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Legend has it that the first saunas were built as early as the 5th century. Before evolving into its current incarnation as a dedicated room or enclosure for achieving the relaxation and therapeutic benefits from steam and heat, a Finnish sauna was used for bathing, healing, and even as a sanctified environment for birthing and preparing the dead for burial. The Finns strongly believed that saunas were a therapeutic cure-all for any ailments or maladies.
The original sauna bathers sat around piles of heated rocks with tarp-like covers over their heads to keep the steam concentrated. These early Finnish versions gradually evolved to rudimentary one-room structures with log ceilings and walls.
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