Does every Finnish house have a sauna?

Almost every house in Finland is said to have a sauna.

Are saunas common in Finland?

It is estimated that there are two million saunas in Finland, for a population of 5.3 million. Traditional saunas are heated by wood, burned either in a stove with a chimney, or by a stove with no chimney. The latter – a smoke-sauna – is the original sauna and believed by most Finns to be the best.

What country uses saunas the most?

Finns own more saunas per capita than anywhere else in the world—2 million, or about one per household.

Are saunas Scandinavian?

Saunas are often simple and unassuming, but are an essential part of Nordic culture. Photo: Niki Nature Travels. A more traditional style of sauna is the smoke sauna – this is a sauna which, unlike a normal sauna, does not have a chimney.

Why do houses in Finland have saunas?

For those working in the fields in harsh conditions, the sauna provided welcome relief to wash and soothe aching muscles. These warm wooden rooms could be used at lower temperatures too, and were at the heart of the major events of a Finn’s life.

What do Finns often snack on during a sauna?

Usually, the heat is not so sharp next to the door. #11 After or during sauna, it’s a tradition to have a cold sauna drink (a beer, cider, long drink, lemonade, water) and a small snack, for example, a sausage. Final words of caution! In general, Finnish men are quite relaxed about being naked.

Why does every house in Finland have a sauna?

For many Finns the sauna was the holiest room in the house and the one most closely associated with their wellbeing. “If a sick person is not cured by tar, spirits or sauna, then they will die,” he adds, quoting a Finnish proverb. (“Spirits” here means strong alcohol, while tar was historically used as an antiseptic.)

How long do Finnish stay in sauna?

Usually one takes at least two or three cycles, lasting between 30 minutes to two hours. In Finland’s numerous summer cottages bathing might go on well into the night. This is especially true in the summer when there’s virtually no darkness at night. The sauna session itself is finished off with a thorough wash.

How long do Finns spend in the sauna?

“Finns say the sauna is a poor man’s pharmacy,” says Pekka Niemi, a 54-year-old from Helsinki, who spends about three hours a day in the sauna, six days a week. “If a sick person is not cured by tar, spirits or sauna, then they will die,” he adds, quoting a Finnish proverb.

Are saunas mixed in Finland?

So yes, people go to saunas naked. In Russia, it isn’t that common for mixed saunas, but in Finland, it is kinda normal. In many mixed saunas, people wear swimming suits. Many public saunas or saunas in hotels are separate for men and women.

Are Finnish saunas wet or dry?

A Finnish sauna is a type of sauna that harnesses the power of dry heat. Unlike steam rooms, also known as wet saunas, moisture and steam play no part in a Finnish sauna. In fact, the humidity is typically kept around 5-20\% and the temperature is set around 80-100ºC.