Finding Christmas peace in a hot Finnish sauna | News
For the majority of Finns, it really isn’t Christmas without a sauna. That is especially true Laura Foontraditional sauna attendant and host.
For about five years, he has hosted sauna-related events for both newcomers and those familiar with Finnish tradition. Foon (pronounced tawny) also offers its customers wellness services in the heat of the sauna.
– I offer folk remedies with massage and a whisk – with different plants and different herbs, he told Yle Uutis.
Foon hosts clients in his own sauna in Etelä-Sipoo municipality, but also travels to perform treatments, ceremonies and organize guided forest walks throughout the year. The rituals are inspired by folk traditions.
But for Foon, the most important sauna event of the year is Christmas, and he is not alone. An estimated 70-80 percent of Finns sweat it at some point during the holidays.
“The Christmas sauna is the core of the Finnish tradition, you know? Even people who don’t use the sauna regularly do it at Christmas,” he said.
The tradition has continued for centuries, as Christmas is considered a time of eating, relaxing and cleaning.
According to Foon, the Christmas sauna is all about the calming effect of the experience at the end of the holiday, and it should be taken during the day on Christmas Eve, after the cooking, the gift wrapping and the cleaning work is done.
“In the sauna, all the stress is washed away and then Christmas peace begins. It is always done in the morning or at the latest during the day and always on Christmas Eve. That tradition has continued until today,” said Foon.
But is the tradition more spiritual or simply the way people cleaned up for the holidays?
“It’s both. The sauna has always been very, very practical. We live here in the freezing cold, so a place to sweat and recover has been important for practical bathing reasons, but it’s also a ritual and has an emotional weight,” he explained.
In the All Points North podcast, we examine what is right and what is wrong in Finnish Christmas. Listen here:
Fingrid: Christmas saunas OK
Most residential saunas in Finland are heated with electric stoves, but should you really use a sauna this year due to the current energy crisis?
According to the country’s grid company Fingrid, they can.
“Unless there are disturbances in the electrical system, we don’t spare anyone a Christmas sauna or roasting a Christmas ham.” Marjaana KiviojaFingrid’s communications manager, told Yle Uutis.
Kivioja stated that a large part of the country’s industry closes at Christmas time, so the demand for electricity remains lower than normal.
“We hope that Finnish Christmas can be celebrated this year as well,” he said and added that if there is no wind outside, the price of electricity may be high.
Fingrid’s electricity system operation manager, Jonne Jäppinen said people could expect “normal” electricity prices over the Christmas period “if anything unusual happens”.
Uncover the heat and whisk
Laura Foon also said that sauna whisks are very common in Christmas sessions, even for those who don’t usually rob themselves with twigs.
Sauna whisks, so-called bath whisk or only in Finnish are bunches of tree branches and leaves, which are used as a massage tool to increase blood circulation and cleanse the skin. After dipping the green branches into the warm water, the swimmers splash themselves and others, bringing the scents of summer into the steamy room. Whisks can be made from a variety of woods, including birch, oak, linden, and even eucalyptus.
Studies have shown that regular sauna use has a wide range of benefits health benefitsboth physically and mentally.
As a sauna educator, Foon has noticed that the experience can be a little intimidating or even scary for the uninitiated.
“The thought of locking yourself in a hot room, if you’ve never done it, can be scary. Plus, of course, a lot of people are worried about not having enough clothes, so it’s a bit of a scary concept for them.” he explained.
“I always tell them they can wear swimsuits if they want to,” Foon said.
Lack of humidity does not make for a pleasant sauna experience, according to Foon, he encouraged saunas to splash a little water on the surfaces of the room so that the air does not remain too dry – especially in electrically heated rooms. which can become very uncomfortable.
It is also important to keep the humidity in the sauna high”steam,” or from water gently poured on stones heated in the stove. According to Foon, you shouldn’t be afraid of a slobber either.
“Don’t be afraid of the steam or the steam, because that’s the soul and spirit of the sauna. Don’t be afraid of pouring water on the stones,” he said.
The proper method for achieving ideal steam is to carefully pour — not throw — ladlefuls of water over the hot stones of the stove, “so you can really feel it,” Foon explained.
Newcomers to the sauna experience may want to start at a slightly lower temperature, such as 75 degrees instead of the normal 80 degrees, he added.
Another tip offered by Foon was to try to experience the sauna as relaxed as possible, even suggesting saunas lying down instead of sitting on a bench.
“Finding a very relaxing position will help. Also, don’t be afraid to close your eyes,” she advised.
Also, if it’s too hot, sitting on a lower bench can make a big difference.
The sauna is known as a place for business and political negotiations in an everyday environment, but according to Foon, talking in a Christmas sauna should be kept to a minimum.
“The Christmas sauna is usually very quiet, although talking is of course a very important part of sauna culture.”
“Not only is it physically, emotionally and mentally healing, but it’s also very healing socially,” Foon explained.
“So you butter to talk, but Christmas saunas are meant to be silent,” he said.
Foon said she was drawn to her sauna healing career because of the benefits the ritual has for her and the people around her. He also believes that experience brings nature closer to people.
“It’s great to get others involved.”
“All the elements are very present in the sauna – heat, fire, air, water, the basic elements in the human body and nature, everywhere. You can harmonize with the elements,” he said.
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