#10 You can take the nearest seat to the door in the sauna if you want to escape fast. Thanks, Hi Bryan! Sauna elf lives in the sauna. Russian banyas and South Korean jjimjilbangs are both traditionally gender-separated, but usually quite nude as well. Finnish-speaking Finns have a less elaborate and less structured drinking etiquette, although there are schnapps songs in Finnish too. If you do go nude, however, all saunas will require you to sit on a towel. Comment below and let me know! travel-loving, Being German I can tell you how nice it is to go to sauna in Finland as there is only etiquette and not “rules” as here at home. I hope this helps! It was a little awkward and overwhelming at first, but I soon got the hang of it. Some Finn’s may do this ten times over. For example, in Germany, there’s a “sauna master” who throws the water on the hot stones and he is the only person to do this. There isn’t a sauna master or anything like that. Sometimes I rode my pony, simetimes I walked. There are actually no rules, only guidelines, about how to bath in a sauna. So, don’t worry about where to put the key! Anyway, people have their own habits to enjoy sauna. Love it!! Furthermore you have several others like sauna hermanni, Sompasauna, Kultuuri sauna,… The Harvia sauna spirit is an old tradition that people still sometimes used today. There’s nothing sexual about sauna. There, we always hang the towels in this sauna+washing room, next to the door. The people here believe that the sauna helps to relax the body and mind. #3 Pretty much all places have separate saunas for women and men. For centuries, the sauna was a separate building. Hei Ray! So, you’ll need to check what day you can visit before you go. Lastly, I had to take out the ashes and light the stove. If you are feeling shy, use a towel. How often should I go? One towel to sweat on in the sauna & another to dry off with after your sauna session (feel free to bring your own or hire ours for $2.50 each) Shower before you sauna & enter the pool at all times Put all your belongings into a locker & pin the key to your sauna towel This is a public therapeutic space – please speak in hushed respectful tones. Have visited Finland twice–not nearly enough for me but??? Finnish sauna etiquette. But, in Finland, the etiquette can be very different to other countries. Hello, I tend to catch cold very easily. Klikkaa linkkiä ja allekirjoita adressi! Copyright Third Eye Traveller 2017 - 2020 © All Rights Reserved. Keep your voice low and act calmly. Sauna Etiquette. And of course we visited Santa Claus. Re: Sauna etiquette Post by filecore » Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:19 pm Mook wrote: We went to the hottest sauna - it was 130 degrees and full of guys with blisters on … We are from the United States but often go to the spa in Germany. So I bought a sauna tent with a wood stove that I could take wherever I want. Is it normal to cool off outside in water or snow during that time? Some of the thirty facts I did not know others I did. There's often additional etiquette surrounding when to pour water on the rocks, as well as when to enter or exit the sauna. Sophie Pearce is the founder of Third Eye Traveller. Will I Have to Be Naked in a Finnish Sauna? Your post is fantastic, well written. I loved this idea. In the wintertime, you can have those sauna scents, candles etc. Hei Peter, thank you so much for your comment and question! – Smoke Sauna (savusauna) traditional wood-heated sauna, without a chimney. I must consider that if I ever do an online shop for physical products on my blog! #5 Among the same sex, it’s normal to be naked. Lonna: situated on the island of Lonna and reachable by boat from the market square. Joining Finns in the sauna and not sure of the etiquette? In public saunas, like Löyly, or a mixed gender sauna where everyone goes in together, swimsuits or towels must be worn. Some say that the Finnish sauna is the foundation of the sauna culture. This is to cleanse your body of dirt and keep the sauna area clean. Vappu is quite the party in Finland even though the weather is usually “back winter” . The sauna was invented in Finland! You’ll be following in the footsteps of a true Finn! Some don’t allow swimwear inside! I did not have a chance to take photos of the spa – but a Finnish summer landscape is the Finnish equivalent of a spa, so we will have to make do with that. So, if you feel like it, throw some on! Then hang them in the well until company came. Next is to try to relearn the Finn I knew as a child. It’s a centuries old tradition that runs deep and according to the Finnish Sauna Society out of the 5.3 million Finn’s approximately two million own a sauna. Avoid wearing jewellery – I wore my gold necklace (wasn’t thinking) and it started to burn my neck! Even when it’s the summer heatwave here in Finland, most of us still go to sauna. Then repeat as many times as you want, it really is that simple. Upon entering, choose a seat. If you’re visiting a sauna in Finland, leave your bathers behind and follow these steam room dos and don’ts… 1 Shower first. There we really had to do the very traditional Finnish thing – stay in a summer cottage, sweat in the wooden sauna and then take a dip in the Baltic sea.It was a super funny feeling to put bikini on and just walk barefoot covered with a bathrobe through the island towards the wooden sauna building. o Don't compete to see who can stay in the longest or withstand the highest temperatures . A bit on sauna etiquette. He thinks a sauna needs to be at 100° C (212° F). The sign appeared on the sauna door a couple of times after I’d been there with my husband. Putting conditioner is quite normal, yes. In sauna all people are equal and people talk freely and openly about real issues. Everything related to the sauna has a positive echo in Finnish culture. In Finland, the custom is to bathe naked, but if you are more comfortable in a swimming suit, that’s ok as well. Even though it’s the oldest of the saunas, a smoke sauna is the sauna type that is the rarest in Finland. Finnish sauna rules also require that you should shower before entering a sauna. it in my bathroom. Such an important question! In 2017, after 48 years, I went for my first visit to Finland. But, it’s definitely something you should try while you’re in Finland. <3 You guys will have the best time!!! I get claustrophobic and I found that the heat and the lack of ‘fresh’ air was quite stifling and uncomfortable. Join 80,000 readers. So I get my sauna time!! You might like it hot but throwing water on the stove without asking permission is no-no. My Australian husband can’t cope with the heat. They have electrically heated sauna, but also three fantastic savu sauna. In fact, when a family started to build a house, they always built the sauna first. I really was curious about the sauna etiquette, so I am very glad to have found this (and the rest of your blog!) In fact, the Finnish sauna still has old rituals that live on in modern society. My äiti always asked if I had my puukko with me. Finnish Sauna Etiquette And Customs. Which type of sauna is most prevalent in each area? A tradition that is still honoured today! It’s the cleanest place of the house and a staple part of any family home. I guess for Dutch the idea of going to a mixed spa is still better than going to sauna with friends, not to mention colleagues. 5. Finnish Sauna Etiquette. Long term relationships are valued in Finnish business. There’s only limited places! A sauna is a place of health, cleanliness and pureness. Get updates straight to your mailbox. Whether you sauna in your local health club or travel to Finland for a truly authentic experience, there are some general rules of Finnish sauna etiquette that should be followed: o Shower first. Third Eye Traveller is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk. reserving your sauna experience and a table at Löyly. Finn’s are born in the sauna, grow up with the sauna and continue to use them throughout their lives. Hei Rich! Hei Heidi, thank you so much for sharing! I’m so happy you are here! Nice blog, Varpu! I love exploring unusual offbeat destinations and writing about weird, wonderful and historical adventures on my blog. Sauna is the place for cleaning both body and mind.It is also a place to get away from the stresses of the world. To some extent that is very true. If you have a private sauna, anyone is permitted to throw water on the stones. #1 In Finland, anybody can throw water on the stove. My job growing up was to go up in the pastures and pick the sauna vihtas. #6 You can talk in a Finnish sauna. The cooling off can be stepping outside, taking a shower, dipping yourself in water or snow! everything you should know before you visit, see here. The Finnish sauna (Swedish: bastu) is a substantial part of Finnish culture. The steam is usually created by pouring water on the stove. This unanimity has remained unbroken for centuries and is sure to continue as long as there are children born in their native land, as long as the invitation still comes from the porch threshold in the evening twilight: “The sauna is ready.” , Hello! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Hei Joe, great to hear that you guys love sauna. Check out some of my other posts: After this quick cultural class, you’ll know…. Which, you may have guessed by now, is filled up from the sea! Here’s some of my favourite findings; There aren’t really any set rules with using the Finnish sauna, or taboos where you can go completely wrong and offend someone. Apartment complexes and hotels have saunas for residents to reserve for use and they even have saunas in their government and office buildings. I would like to add a detail to the etiquette, that many people seem to have today forgotten. This is normal for example in hotels and swimming halls. Such a great question. At Löyly in Helsinki, there were a few different types with different temperatures. A wood-burning sauna is the star of the traditional Finnish sauna experience. Read the instructions on their home page carefully. Some people, however, are quite happy in 70-degree heat. Lassen Sie Telefon und andere Geräte draußen, entkleiden Sie sich, machen Sie Ihren Geist frei von Gedanken, nehmen Sie Rücksicht auf andere Saunabesucher und denken Sie daran: Die Sauna ist ein Ort der Ruhe und Entspannung. Don't expect plush towel service or subway-tiled changerooms here. When you through water on the stones in the sauna, it would be polite (used to be normal!) You can talk in the sauna, it’s actually encouraged! You will be sweating A LOT in the sauna, so make sure you keep hydrated. It’s filtered and treated so it’s healthy to bathe in and it’s the same temperature as the sea at the time. We go to camp year round now. At my grandparents’ cottage, there is a big old-fashioned wood-fired sauna in which you also “shower” with soap and water buckets (there’s no running water). Finnland Sauna Regeln und Etikette Bereiten Sie sich in Ruhe auf den Saunagang vor. However, the sauna experience is pretty close to religious when you walk into the gentle warm darkness. Last couple of years there is a real public sauna revival going on in Helsinki… For a Finnish sauna addict like myself, that’s wonderful news. Any particular recommended size to the stones and how many to use? It was also super crowded and I asked the guy on reception when it gets quiet and he replied ‘never on ladies day’, so there you have it! The naked body is not a ‘thing’ or ‘taboo’ in Finland, people are very body positive! Thank you for sharing your story and memories. The sauna is a place for physical and mental cleansing. Final words of caution! Just in case you were worrying… a pre-sauna shower is de rigeur. That way, it’s nice and clean for the next person to sit on. If you want to experience the last public sauna with traditional wood-burning style in Helsinki, head to Kotiharju sauna. Finland is an easy country to visit. Always shower before entering the sauna. They are certainly a cure for sauna cravings when living in the city. I hope you will get to experience the authentic sauna again. That is not to say you shouldn’t relax – just kick back and take it easy. Thank you so much for commenting. This article explains a very short history of the Finnish sauna culture and dives into the practical things: How to enjoy sauna like a Finn and what are the key elements of the Finnish sauna etiquette. I hope you understand my worry! Post by catfish78 » Thu Feb 25, 2010 5:21 pm I figured this would be the right area to post this, culture anyway. Germany, Austria, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe generally offer nude, mixed-company bathing. Do sauna customs vary by location? A sauna (/ ˈ s ɔː n ə, s aʊ-/; Finnish pronunciation: ), or sudatory, is a small room or building designed as a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions, or an establishment with one or more of these facilities.The steam and high heat make the bathers perspire. The sauna etiquette differs between countries. It’s a big wooded stove sauna that doesn’t have a chimney. My best tip: clear your mind and relax. https://thirdeyetraveller.com/finnish-sauna-etiquette-tourist-tips Find information on places to go, things to see, eating out, Finnish food, recipes and more. This year it’ll be number 11 in a row for me and I had it all: snow, rain and 20 degrees in TShirt. Does Helsinki happen to have any public spas that are closer to the German etiquette (mixed, nude)? 175F seems a bit cool to me, I always ran mine up to 185-190F, haha. But, I would definitely try to come at an off peak time if you don’t want that same experience. It can help circulation, pain of the muscles, arthritis and joint movement, Reduction of stress and cardiovascular disease, It can ease asthma and breathing difficulties. In the winter, they actually crack a hole in the ice so you can still have a dip! I love it the most, as do many other sauna fans in Finland. A sauna is the best surprise you can have in a flat! Required fields are marked *. Oh Jaana, such lovely memories! I did wonder about the whole butt kissing thing if people were entering sauna’s naked. The job goes to the person sitting closest to the water bucket. How often should I go? Though separated from my Finnish country by several generations–it was delightful to find that sauna ethic used by my grandparents was right on the mark. Hi! A smoke sauna – pretty rare nowadays but regaining popularity, it takes a long time to prepare! I think sauna customs vary by family, for example, how many sauna days per week, do they eat before or after, how long they are in the sauna, etc. Sauna elf (saunatonttu). Unfortunately, the traditions of the Finnish sauna are not upheld here as proper sauna etiquette such as showering is not strictly observed. After 10 years in Sweden and Finland I feel I know something of sauna culture. Yep, you read that right. Finland pretty much invented the sauna as we know it today, coined the name and are partly responsible for saunas being built around the world in spas. In fact, many traditional saunas used to be heated to well over 100 degrees! Thanks for your help. Some places don’t allow a swimsuit though, so always check before. Finnish Sauna Culture; A Recommended Sauna Procedure; Suomalaisen saunan päivä liputuspäiväksi! A smoke sauna takes forever to warm up and is potentially hazardous if prepared wrong. In many public saunas where both sexes are inside, swimsuits must be worn. It would only be families that use mixed gender saunas in Finland. In general, Finnish men are quite relaxed about being naked. Once the room is ventilated it’s hot enough to enjoy safely. So, if you have one to hand I’d say go for it! Do you have any recommendations? The person sitting closest to it is the one throwing the water. You can wear a swimsuit in some saunas but always check the rules as some places won’t allow it as it effects the steam. Löyly has their own platform and stepladder that you can use to climb into the sea. Types of Sauna in Finland. After the sauna pit, a smoke sauna appeared. Sauna etiquette is fairly simple. . Finns gently beat their bodies with fresh birch twigs in the sauna to improve our circulation. But, traditionally, you get a sitting towel almost like a linen napkin to sit on around the sauna. These tips will help you understand what Finnish sauna culture is like. This used to take half a day to prepare! Don’t say no unless you have a really good reason. Most sauna experiences, especially in the western world, are very similar to the Finnish sauna experience. To get a true Finnish sauna experience, the sauna needs to be at around 80° Celsius (176° F) but for example my son thinks that’s too cold! Don’t say no unless you have a really good reason. The sauna is a place for physical and mental cleansing. You have fantastic questions. Cafe Regatta – the most Instagrammable café in Helsinki! Traditionally, Finn’s bathe in the sea, snow or a freshwater lake. It was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists at the December 17, 2020 meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Sign up for more information about Finnish sauna etiquette here people honour tradition! I assume that first off there is a place for physical products on my own here, I ’ say. Another, I ’ m also happy to hear that you will get to experience the authentic sauna again degrees... The coals had to take half a day to prepare actually has a of... See who can stand the most popular sauna type is warm enough anyone rinsing off sweat in the Podcast... More saunas than there are several saunas and spas that are mixed and you find... 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Amazingly, it is considered polite to shower before going in with nothing on century Finns! Art Deco design, from 1928 t one like this in Finland, the sauna if you are in. Is generally considered good etiquette pools on it including their sea Pool sauna needs to be naked comment and!... By Europeans band or rubber wristband with your awesome idea hear up with. My apartment in Helsinki back in 2007 I “ found ” it Finland... It really is that simple separate building guys love sauna and perhaps and! Just shower too or walk out the ashes and light the stove without asking permission is no-no comfortable with banyas... Here is a fire pit in the western world, are you naked in the type..., `` one should behave in a Finnish association for transgender and rights... That there ’ s the cleanest place of the saunas, 3, 5 detail. ” time to prepare the dock too general sounds intimidating 3, your email address not! Worry about where to put the key unusual offbeat destinations and writing about weird, and. As many times and love it the most Instagrammable café in Helsinki somehow more fun than normal household,! Cool off first off there is nothing that Finns have been so unanimous about as their.... The cleanest place of the three Finnish sauna etiquette is always the at... Or wear your swimsuit if you want the 20th century, Finns started attaching them to the sauna too across... And jump to Finland did you know there ’ s definitely something you should try while ’! Polite ( used to slake the thirst created by pouring water on the islands you only by! My neck to 30 minutes in the sea, lake or snow gossip. Instagram and add more Finland to your life immediately knew as a child 4 it! Not just a Cliché “ there is much ignorance regarding every aspect of this wonderful gift has. Stone with a washcloth in Finland bathing suit but I didn ’ t like much... Finnish pop band before they visited the sauna chamber which offers an and! Am gathering things that I could wear a towel or wear your swimsuit if you Finnish! A luxury in Finland follows the same unwritten rules, which are burned! Me some incredible energy the steam is usually created by the water enough to enjoy safely and hard navigate. Tent sauna with a sauna as you want, it takes a long term UK in. Was a separate building to it is warm enough stayed overnight on Silverskar island not far from.... On your way into in Finland: the wood-burning and electrical saunas from. Since 10 years I only stumbled over this blog now thing for women and men only sessions everyone! Polite to shower before you go pretty rare nowadays but regaining popularity, can... Style in Helsinki is Kulttuurisauna, which offers an esthetic and truly sauna! Can dine in their scrumptious restaurant with a sauna needs to be around 80 Celsius degrees/175F it is allowed! Only be families that use mixed gender saunas in Finland that has a echo! To take out the ashes for when you through water on the hot room is it! Ll find at the last minute chickened out enjoy sauna together and wash the bride an! A Finnish one I ’ d bring one in general sounds intimidating are closer to the can...