The history of the Finnish sauna
Ground sauna
After that first form, ground sauna evolved in a type if improved ground sauna, with the beams-supported roof and a real door, oftentimes even with the whole front wall made of logs.
Smoke sauna original stove was a pile of rocks. This “rock-stove” and process of heating demanded more effort and skills then in it does in modern Finnish sauna. The most important was the “slow” attitude. That skill of slow heating process in smoke sauna was passed on from one generation to another. Proper preparation of smoke sauna demanded lots of effort and time. Wood had to be chopped up, the fire had to be extinct and smoke filtrated out of the room.
Process of bathing in smoke sauna
A process itself begins with putting the fire in the stove, which heats the stones on top of it. Just after, the smoke from the burning woods was circulating the room before being vented out of the sauna, usually through some cracks in the roof, or through the doors left open shortly after the heating process. After the sauna being ventilated, the door was closed and the bathing could start. It is important to know here that the soot from the smoke is not “dirt” and furthermore, it leaves a pleasant aroma in the sauna. Normally, before bathing process, benches and floor were being cleaned.
THE TRADITIONAL SMOKE SAUNA IS HIGHLY VALUED BY THE REAL SAUNA GOERS AS A BEST FORM OF SAUNA, PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY SAUNA EXPERIENCE.
If you wish to experience this genuine sauna, you can try it at the Vaskiniemi, sauna establishment of the Finnish Sauna Society in
Sauna with chimney – beginning of the evolution
At the beginning of the 19th century, the sauna with chimney was revealed and as such it marked a beginning of the important evolution in the history of sauna stoves. The stones in the stove have been covered with the cone-shaped metal top finishing with the flue, leading through the roof as a chimney. At the top part of this metal cover there were the doors, used for controlling the temperature in the sauna (open/closed) and also for throwing the water over the stones.
In the 1930’s, a new kind of sauna stove was invented – stove for continuous heating. The stones here were isolated from the fire. The main advantage of this stove was the possibility to keep the fire burning continuously while using the sauna, while the intensity of the fire regulates the temperature in the room. The stones are in separate parts of the stove, next to the fire, but isolated from it, enabled to stay hot and produce the steam as well as the fire is burning.
Electrical stove – the revolution in Finnish saunas
The final stage of the sauna development was the invention of the electrical stove, the major innovation in the history of Finnish sauna. Here, instead of putting the fire, the electric resistors heat up the stones. The size of the stove must not be neglected; it should be large enough to put many stones in it. The more stones is put, water thrown on them will produce the more enjoyable löyly.
Sauna in
Although there are many types of sweating houses or saunas throughout the world, the Finns are however the most specific sauna users. They have kept their old sauna traditions and adjusted them to today’s modern life. It can be said for sure that they, as conservers, developers and mediators, have spread the Finnish sauna all around the world.
Today, almost every Finn goes to the sauna at least once a week. The saunas can be found everywhere, in private apartments and houses; and numerous families have their sauna cottage near the lake or the see. Sauna is unavoidable in sport centers, hotels, tourist resorts…and even in camping sites. Often it is an integral part of corporate headquarters and enterprises. Even the Parliament house in
The only sauna almost disappeared is a public sauna in the town, but it is to understand this since nearly everybody has its own private sauna.
The Finnish saunas are today are spread throughout the whole world and its benefits are widely recognized. Sauna bathing is very common in
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