Saunas in Finland
 

My family and I are travelling to Finland in the summer and we understand that saunas are a big part of the culture. I also understand that the saunas are "co-ed" or "family" where my son and daughter will be exposed to opposite sex nudity (something they are not used to in North America obviously). Are all such saunas like this or are there single sex saunas only? For anybody who is from Finland or been there before...what is your opinion of "co-ed" vs. "single sex" saunas.

I would suggest you do as the Romans do so to speak. As long as you don't pretend that there is a big deal about it they won't think anything is weird (of course this will depend on how old your children area). Plus, people will wear towels I would presume.

There are both co-ed and not co-ed saunas in Finland (I think).

I can only speak from my experiences. Most every Finn family has their own sauna and when the children are small the family will go together. Then, as the children grow older, they usually go with their same-sex siblings and the parents will go together without the children. <BR> <BR>For Finns, nudity isn't really that much of an issue - not like it is here in the States. <BR> <BR>I wouldn't worry too much, no one is going to pressure you to do anything you don't want to do. I know my host fam always let me just have sauna by myself. <BR> <BR>After you get used to it (like, after two or three times), it actually is so relaxing. Usually following sauna time the family usually eats snacks and has drinks - quite enjoyable! :) <BR> <BR>hope this helped, <BR>Becca

Hi Josie, <BR> <BR>As a "full-blooded" Finn, and having lived there the first 22 years of my life, I agree with Becca and her response. I would also like to add the following, since she was talking only about taking a sauna bath in private homes. <BR>In hotels you need to make a reservation ahead of time to use the sauna. When your time comes, you can go in alone or with whomever you want. In some larger hotels they will have separate saunas for each sex, you can go in with a towel wrapped around you, although you will be stared at, or go in naked. That is certainly more enjoyable, since you'll be sweating anyway, and you're in there not only to relax, but also to let you pores be cleansed. <BR>Always take a shower first, then go in for a while (a wood-heated sauna is much more comfortable than one with an electric stove), throw as much water as you can stand on the rocks, then go back into the shower to cool off slightly, then repeat the sauna-shower pattern. Bring enough liquid to drink, water is fine, but a cold beer is almost a must. If the (private)sauna is by a lake, hop in for a while, or in the winter you would roll in the snow (believe it or not) or jump into an "avanto", a hole made in the ice of a lake, although I've never been brave enough to do that. <BR>Also, an other custom the Finns have is beating oneself, or your partner with a whisk made out of birch branches, which has been dipped in a bucket of water. This improves circulation and makes your skin really clean, and the smell is wonderful (the whisk is called a "vihta" or a "vasta"). Most people make their own, but I think nowadays you can also buy them in the store or at the "tori", the outdoor market place. <BR> <BR>I hope you enjoy your visit to Finland, where the sauna of course originated from, and learn many new things about their culture and traditions. <BR> <BR>Benita <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>