Finnish Sauna
type of sauna
Definition of Finnish Sauna
A wooden room heated by a wood-burning stove and steam is created by throwing water on the rocks.
It’s commonly referred to as the traditional Finnish sauna and is an evolution from the early-age Finnish sauna that was just a pit in the ground with an open fire.
It was used as a warm bathing area since the lakes and other water bodies were too cold or frozen. Moreover, most materials—wood for construction, wood for fire, stones—were readily available in the environment.
The wooden structure typically includes double dovetail corners, unlike modern adaptations—the traditional sauna—which include square or curved corners.
Additionally, the sauna uses slightly green logs for construction so that the building tightens as they dry up.
The sauna benches are built high so that the bather’s feet are on the same level (not lower) than the top of the sauna stove.
Bathers always have a bunch of branches from Birch trees that they soak in water to produce a pleasant smell. They also use them to hit their bodies gently.
Of note is that these aromatic branches get harvested before the leaves fully develop and are hung in a cool, dry area.
The Finnish sauna heats to about 80–110°C and users can pour water on the heated stones (usually from a lake or river) to create steam.
Example of “Finnish Sauna” in a sentence
One way to experience Finnish culture is to enjoy a bathing session in a Finnish Sauna.
Related Terms for Finnish Sauna