Finland

Finland is often associated most commonly with the sauna in North-America, after all the name sauna comes from the Finnish language. Saunas in this country trace their history back to pits dug into a slope and used as dwellings during the cold Finnish winter months. Traditionally the heat came from stones headed from an open wood fire that would burn within the sauna. Once the fire died out and no smoke was being produced water was poured on the stones creating warm steam for 12 hours. Over time the people began using electric stoves as technology allowed for it. During this time the Baltic nations held a similar relationship with saunas. The spread of saunas to many other European nations happened in WWII when other soldiers had noticed how the Finnish soldiers built saunas even in the bunkers, and brought the traditions back to their own nations. In Finland saunas were a central place in traditional hygiene, religion, and socializing. Saunas are where many Finns were traditionally born as well since it was a comforting environment for the mother in labor. Superstitions held that each sauna had its own spirit or elf who would protect the sauna.