The Sauna

Perhaps the most important cultural activity or space in Finnish culture is the sauna. Most Finnish houses include a sauna, and public saunas run rampant, in both Finland and pockets of Finnish immigrants worldwide. A sauna is essentially a hot room, where one goes, typically in the nude, to sweat out the toxins in their body, and get clean. Some saunas are attached to the house, while some look like sheds in the backyard.

I grew up with a sauna, either at my house or my grandparent’s house. Typically groups of people all go together, and one person is in charge of keeping the sauna hot, by a wood stove. People clamor onto the sauna benches and sweat until they can no longer take the heat when they rinse off and wash their hair. Essential oils are added the the water buckets, and steam is thrown at the stove every minute or so. Taking a sauna together builds community, as the sauna is a space and time for relaxation. 

Saunas are more popular worldwide now, because of their health benefits. Saunas help with blood circulation, detoxification, metabolism, and a slew of other health benefits. They are often seen in gyms or spas.