The Finns And Their Finnish Sauna

In Finland, saunas have been a part of their culture for around a thousand years or more. The Finnish sauna has been around for generations and is considered to be a necessity of these people, rather then the luxury that many other people consider saunas to be. Not only do the Finns consider the sauna to be a great health benefit, but they also use their saunas a great way to relax and enjoy time with friends and family members. The Finnish sauna is almost viewed as a social place as well as a place to bath and relax.

The process of Finnish sauna bathing is a bit different than the way most people use a sauna. First of all they take a nice warm shower, just a basic shower to rinse off, and then they go into the sauna for between 10-20 minutes. In the sauna they relax and let the heat warm them and open up their pores. After the first period, they usually take a break and leave the sauna to cool down by taking a cold shower or going out in the snow. Then usually they take the time to sit in the cool air while enjoying some type of beverage, which more often than not is alcoholic. At times they repeat the process a couple times and then end the bathing by taking a warm shower, this time using soap and using shampoo on their hair.

Amazingly enough, there is almost no home in Finland that does not have a Finnish sauna. It is estimated that there are almost two million saunas in Finland, a country that only has around five million people. Even apartment buildings have either common saunas for use, or include saunas with each apartment. Not only do the Finns use the Finnish saunas in their homes, but they are also used for social and business purposes as well. Many meetings, for both business and pleasure, actually occur in a sauna, as they are popular gathering places. Many successful businesses actually own their own saunas for business meetings or even meetings of the employees.

Interestingly enough, whether going to a new home or on a peace-keeping mission, the Finnish sauna is usually the first building to be constructed. People usually build it before their homes because they can live in it temporarily, cook on the stove within, and still use it for bathing. Even soldiers always have their saunas with them, and usually construct the sauna before anything else. The sauna is also viewed to be a place of peace, where everyone is equal. Titles are not used while people are in the sauna, and this is a time when everyone is viewed on the same plane, no matter what their status.

Not only is the Finnish Sauna viewed as a place of bathing and social activity, but it is also considered to be a spiritual place where one can meditate. Sauna bathing is very important to the Finns, and if foreigners are invited to one of their sauna baths, it is considered to be a sign of great respect and high honor for that person.

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