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In a land rich in sauna history and tradition, public saunas used to be a staple in every neighbourhood of Helsinki. Now only a handful still exist.
ONE could say that sauna is to Finns as air is to the rest of us: indispensable. In fact, in a country of 5.5 million people, there is said to be nearly three million saunas on hand. Sauna is also the most recognised Finnish word to have been incorporated into the English language, originally used to describe the structure in which a sauna is held. It’s importance cannot be understated. As a cornerstone of Finnish life, sauna has provided warmth in a cold land and been a cultural domain for millennia.