But only in Finland and some remote mountainous and forested regions in E urope did the custom of sauna continue uninterrupted to the present day. Roman and Russian spas were famous predecessors of the sauna, and the Finnish sauna has traits of both. In the Finnish version, dry and humid air alternate. First the dry air of the sauna-room is heated. When the temperature is hot enough, water is thrown on the hot stones of the sauna stove, and the bathers are enveloped in steam.
Good ventilation allows the humidity to escape, and in a few minutes, the air is dry again.
Optimum bat hing temperature is 80-90 degrees centigrade. Scandinavia and the continent are enjoying a sauna revival. In Finland, there are approximately 1 million saunas at the present time, and the number is growing. In addition to bathing and washing, the sauna was the place in the old days for curing disease and brewing remedies. Because the sauna is clean and subdued, women gave birth here, and the deceased were laid out in the sauna.