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20 Sizzling Sauna Facts
(Finnish savusauna)
Join us on a world tour of fascinating fun facts about saunas.
What’s in a name?
The word 'sauna' is derived from the Finnish 'savuna', which means 'in smoke'. In a traditional Finnish savusauna there is no chimney; the room fills with smoke during the heating process.
Ancient Sauna Baths
Today, Finnish sauna culture is most recognized in its ancient tradition. However, the healing power of heat was used in several ancient civilizations [1].
The ancient Egyptians enjoyed steam baths for purification, while the Romans built large baths for public bathing and socializing.
Likewise, Native Americans used sweat lodges for cleansing and as sacred spaces for community gatherings.
Global heat rituals
Here are some intriguing examples of how sauna is practiced in different cultures.
We now know about the existence of the Finnish smoke sauna. However, in Finland a sauna is not just for bathing; it is a spiritual space where birch branch bundles, or 'vihta', improve circulation and infuse the air with aromatic oils.
In Sweden, the Finnish neighbors often follow the 'bastu' (sauna) with a dip in a cold lake or a roll in the snow, which emphasizes the difference between hot and cold. It is a place for relaxation and conviviality, with a tradition of 'bastus snack'.
In Finland's other neighbor, Russia, the 'banya' is a cornerstone of social life, where families and friends connect through the stimulating movements of a 'venik', a branch that stimulates the skin and the mind.
Further east, in Japan, the 'onsen' offers a peaceful retreat, using volcanic hot springs to purify and harmonize body and mind.
In Korea, the 'jjimjilbang', with its many heated rooms, is a hub for relaxation and connection.
Finally, the Turkish 'hammam' combines the art of relaxation with communal interaction, with massage and water complementing the deep cleansing of the sauna experience.
(Russian banya)
Sauna World Championships: a risky event
Don’t try this at home.
At the turn of the 21st century, the World Sauna Championships emerged as a thrilling spectacle of endurance, held annually from 1999 to 2010 in Heinola, Finland. The event attracted participants from more than 20 countries.
Participants faced extreme conditions, sitting in saunas with temperatures starting at a blistering 110°C (230°F), while half a liter of water was poured onto the stove every 30 seconds to intensify the heat. The last person to remain in the sauna and exit without assistance was crowned the victor.
The Finnish Sauna Association has opposed this from the start, citing the serious health risks associated with such extreme sauna bathing. And not without reason: the championships were finally stopped in 2010 after a finalist succumbed.
Amazing Sauna Spots
These are one-of-a-kind saunas:
Sky sauna
Take your sauna experience to new heights of up to 40 meters with this Ferris wheel in Helsinki (Finland). It gives you breathtaking views of Helsinki and the sea.
Sompasauna
Once an underground gem in Helsinki, Sompasauna is a beloved public sauna run by dedicated volunteers. Located on the Baltic Sea, it provides a rustic escape where visitors can enjoy a steamy session followed by a refreshing dip in the sea.
Therme Vals
Nestled in the Swiss Alps, Therme Vals is renowned for its serene and luxurious thermal baths. This protected heritage site boasts highly mineralized water from the St. Peter spring, offering a warm and soothing experience at 30° Celsius.
Blue Lagoon
This blue pearl in Iceland offers a unique geothermal spa experience surrounded by a beautiful volcanic landscape. The lagoon is known for its milky blue water, rich in silica, minerals and algae.
(Blue Lagoon - Iceland)
Hakone Kowakien Yunessun
Ever thought of bathing in your favorite drink? In Hakone (Japan) it is possible. Yunessun offers a unique twist on the traditional onsen experience with its themed baths, including a coffee bath and wine bath, which, by the way, are made with real coffee beans and wine.
Sauna World Records
When it comes to world records, people are creative! When you search for the word 'sauna' you will find 5259 results in Guinness World Records [2]. Here are some high-profile sauna records:
Most saunas per capita
Not really surprising, but Finland has more than three million saunas (2013). A little calculation makes it clear that there is approximately one sauna for every 1.59 inhabitants.
Most nationalities in a sauna
Another record in the name of the Finns. The Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Helsinki) managed to bring together 99 different nationalities in the largest wood-fired military naval sauna in Finland.
Largest sauna
Contrary to Finland's usual appreciation for personal space, the world's largest sauna tells a different story. Built by Vapaateekkarit, a Finnish technical student organization, this 310-square-meter sauna was constructed in just five days purely for fun. [3]
Located at Aalto University, the sauna features a massive wood stove, or kiuas, weighing around four tonnes. This colossal project, made possible by volunteers, showcases a unique aspect of Finnish culture where social comfort thrives in the heat of a sauna.
Sauna Festivals and Events
Sauna festivals and events around the world transform the sauna experience into a vibrant community gathering.
Sauna Aufguss
The sauna theatrical experience "Aufguss", which loosely translated from German to English means "infusion", is a very popular sauna ritual in saunas and spas in Europe.
During an infusion session, a sauna master circulates air by waving a hand or towel after pouring water infused with essential oils onto the hot sauna stones, creating a more intense and aromatic experience.
Sauna Opera
The Savonlinna Opera Festival (Finland) takes place every July in the historic 15th-century Olavinlinna Fortress. In addition to the operatic allure, the festival experience is enriched by the Finnish traditions of sauna and lake cruising, offering visitors a holistic cultural and recreational experience amid Finland's natural beauty.
(Olavinlinna Fortress - Finland)
Sauna festival
Every year the largest free sauna festival, Kalajärven Saunafestarit, is held in Peräseinäjoki (Finland). Sauna enthusiasts from all walks of life come together to share their passion for the sauna.
It is a feast for the eyes: from creatively converted mobile saunas to campers with high-quality technological equipment. It is an immersion that goes beyond a purely Finnish sauna experience: it is a party complete with food, drinks and fun.
Sauna movies
From steamy scenes to heated dramas, saunas have found their place in cinema, providing a backdrop for relaxation, intrigue and even a touch of comedy in the cinematic world. We mention a few:
Smoke sauna sisterhood (2023)
This film is set in and around an Estonian smoke sauna surrounded by nature. In the steam and heat of the sauna, a group of women share their most personal stories. This unique film disguisedly portrays the intimate contact between these women.
The film won several awards (Sundance Film Festival and European Film Award for Best Documentary).
247°F (2011)
In this thriller movie, a seemingly idyllic weekend with four friends in a lakeside cabin turns into a harrowing fight for survival. The tension escalates when three of them become trapped in a sauna, with the temperature relentlessly rising to a deadly 247°F.
Sauna (2008)
This movie is also known as 'Filth' or 'Evil Rising' and is a Finnish horror film about the eerie aftermath of the Russian-Swedish war. It takes place, among other things, in a sauna that promises cleansing from their sins.
Eastern Promises (2007)
The infamous bathhouse scene in this movie is a grim depiction of vulnerability and violence, in which Nikolai, played by Viggo Mortensen, is ambushed while completely unarmed and naked.
The raw physicality and graphic nature of the scene have sparked much debate.
Lost in Translation (2003)
In a fleeting but memorable sauna scene, Bob Harris seeks solace in the silent steam, but finds his peace shattered by the incessant chatter of two German speakers.
This brief encounter, lasting less than thirty seconds, subtly underlines the film's themes of alienation and the search for connection, as Bob's attempt at peace is comically thwarted by an unexpected intrusion.
Diane Sargent
References
1. Gianfaldoni S et al., History of the Baths and Thermal Medicine. Open Access Maced J Med Sci., https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5535692/
2. Guinness World Records, https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/
3 James O’Sullivan, April 2016, This is Finland. The heat is on. https://finland.fi/life-society/the-heat-is/
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