Sauna Traditions from Finland

Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world and perhaps an insight into their wellness culture can lead us to understand that the sauna can be a place where “you don’t need to be anything else than who you are.”

In the shamanic tradition, it is believed that the sauna is a portal between our world and the spirit world. Everything in nature has its own spirit and when you go for a sauna, your bareness is so natural that it reconnects you with nature.

In the early stone age, settlers of Finland first built saunas on new land as a place to rest while building a home. It was a place for relaxation, bathing, food storage, and discussion.

There are many sacred traditions that honor this portal. Saunas were a space where they would both give birth and prepare for funerals. Today, it is a feature for many celebrations like weddings, harvests, and summer solstices. Bachelor and Bachelorette parties involve love spells and rituals to wash away previous relationships to be ready for a new union.

Most of these spells involve a Vasta / Vihta, a leaf broomstick made of branches. To use this in the sauna, gently brush your body to dive away bad thoughts and illness. The Finnish believe branches from different trees offer different remedies. 

Juniper boosts blood circulation, Eucalyptus is anti-inflammatory, Pine and Spruce are best for treating sore backs, and Oak is best for those with allergies.

The sauna is a wonderful, comforting, and simple space that provides many benefits.

Here are some words of wisdom from Finnish people:

“I try to go to the sauna two or three times a week so my heart stays healthy and my mind clear.”

“No matter what kind of rage you’re in, you can come straight from work, and somehow it always sheds that bad mood.”

“The process is mystical, you can’t really put it into words, you have to experience it.”

“It’s a euphoric feeling, a natural high.”

“There’s a profound feeling of presence. The feeling after having a sauna is like after meditation, you have an inner smile.”

“Going to the sauna is like going to church, it’s a sacred ritual.”

“It’s a combination of relaxation and forgetting the day’s problems. You can live in the moment.”

“It’s some kind of open, honest space, where you don’t need to be anything else than what you are.”

If you’re interested in Finnish sauna traditions, watch this guide.