The Finnish sauna boasts a rich and fascinating history, stretching back thousands of years!
The oldest of Finnish saunas were made as pits in the ground and date back to 7000 BC. Unfortunately, there is no written history of how the first sauna in Finland came to be. But there are remnants of saunas that were so-called “ground pit saunas” used during the Stone Age. As time went on, the sauna started to work its way into Finnish traditions and stories.
A Social Place
Over time, saunas evolved into above-ground structures with chimneys. They weren’t just for bathing; Finns used them for everything from bathhouses to childbirth, social gatherings, and taking care of the sick and dying. Often, a sauna was the first building constructed within a new homestead. All you needed to build a sauna was ground, three walls, an entryway that could be covered, a turf or animal hide-based roof, and rocks heated by fire. From then on, the sauna has been improved and has naturally progressed to what we have today. As wood stoves became the norm and building quality improved, the sauna became a full-time dwelling, especially during the winter.
Part of Culture
Saunas have existed in other cultures, but in Finland, they have become entwined into the national culture. In days gone by, they were the most practical place to wash during the long winters when there was no hot running water. You can still find people in Finland who were born in a sauna.
Saunas remain deeply ingrained in Finnish culture. They’re considered places of relaxation, social connection, and even rejuvenation. With over 3 million saunas for a population of 5.5 million, Finland truly embraces the sauna experience!
The Experience
Traditional saunas are heated with wood. The wood is either burned in a stove with a chimney or by a stove with no chimney. The latter – smoke sauna – is the original sauna, and most Finnish people believe it to be the best kind. The door is closed after the wood has burned down (and most of the smoke has escaped), leaving the embers to heat the sauna to the proper temperature, yielding a soft heat and an aroma of wood smoke. However, these smoke saunas are ticking time bombs, and are known to burn down every 10 years or so! The black soot that collects on the walls will eventually take a spark from the fire and set the sauna ablaze.
While saunas have a rich history with Finnish culture, many other cultures also have utilized the traditional sauna. Visit the Historic 1930s Finnish Sauna on display at the Erwin Historical Society.
