Sauna is a profound part of Finland’s national identity. The variety of Finnish saunas is immense. Many locals have their own sauna, even in apartment buildings. Saunas have even been made in tents and cars. The most iconic way to sauna is at a cottage by a lake. Many Finnish saunas are still heated with wood, not electricity. A wood-fired stove or ‘kiuas‘ produces a soft and moist steam. Electric stoves have become common in cities, but many Finns still swear by wood stoves.
In the sauna, people sit on benches, ‘lauteet‘, and water or ‘löyly‘ is thrown onto the kiuas, which raises the temperature and humidity. After throwing löyly, the sauna often falls silent as people focus on relaxing and feeling the heat. In the summer, many saunas also have a ‘vihta‘, a bundle of birch branches used to whisk the body. This stimulates circulation and brings the wonderful scent of Finnish forests into the sauna.
The Finnish sauna experience is not complete without cooling off. In winter, the bravest may plunge into the snow or calmly descend into an ice hole, while in summer, it’s popular to dive into a lake, river, or sea. The cooling-off phase is one of the nicest parts of sauna experience, especially if it can be done in nature. It’s also good to drink water during this time.
The sauna is also a social event where friends and family gather. It is a place for conversations, laughter, and quietude. In the sauna, everyday worries are forgotten and simple things are enjoyed: warmth, cleanliness, cooling off, and good company. In the sauna, Finns sit peacefully together in silence or chat about life. Both silence and cheerful conversation are perfectly okay in the sauna, but arguing or raising one’s voice is not appropriate.
Finnish sauna culture is a unique experience. Make sure you experience it all when you visit Finland.
