Sauna

**Saunominen** is an exclusive single stamp in SLOWLY. This can be purchased in the shop when you visit Finland.

## Information

The **Finnish sauna** (Swedish: *bastu*) is a substantial part of Finnish and Estonian culture. It was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists at the December 17, 2020 meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. As authorized by the state, the Finnish Heritage Agency commits, together with Finnish sauna communities and promoters of the sauna culture, to safeguard the vitality of the sauna tradition and to highlight its importance as part of customs and wellbeing. In the case of Estonia UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists smoke sauna tradition since 2014. The word *sauna* itself is of Finnish origin. In Estonian language it is *saun*.

Saunas are an integral part of the way of life in Finland. They are found on the shores of Finland's numerous lakes, in private apartments, corporate headquarters, at the Parliament House and even at the depth of 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) in Pyhäsalmi Mine. The sauna is an important part of the national identity and those who have the opportunity usually take a sauna at least once a week. The traditional sauna day is Saturday.

Taking a sauna begins with having a wash (usually a shower), followed by a sit in the sauna room, the room being typically warmed to 80–110 °C (176–230 °F). Water is thrown on the hot stones topping the *kiuas*, a special stove used to warm up the sauna. This produces great amounts of wet steam, known as *löyly*, increasing the moisture and the apparent temperature within the sauna. Only the word *löyly* is used for this particular type of steam; the Finnish word *höyry* ('steam, vapour') is never used for it except in a scientific sense. Equivalents for *löyly* can be found in the Finnic languages such as the Karelian *löyly*, the Estonian *leil*, the Votic *leülü*, the Veps *l'öl'* and the Livonian *löul*. Its original sense signified 'spirit, breath, soul' and this is still seen in the Uralic languages--for example, the Udmurt *lul*, the Komi *lol*, the Mansi *läl* ('life'), the Khanty *lil* and the Hungarian *lélek*.

Occasionally one uses a bunch of leafy, fragrant silver birch called a *vihta* (*vasta* in Eastern Finland) to gently beat oneself. This supposedly has a relaxing effect on the muscles and also helps to soothe the irritation from mosquito bites. When the heat begins to feel uncomfortable it is customary to jump into a lake, sea, or a swimming pool, or to have a shower. In the winter, rolling in the snow or even swimming in a hole cut in lake ice, an avanto, is sometimes used as a substitute. Often after the sauna it is a custom to sit down in the dressing room or on the porch of the sauna to enjoy a sausage, along with beer or soft drinks.

After cooling down from the first bath, one goes back into the hot room and begins the cycle again. The number and duration of hot room-cooling down cycles varies from person to person based on personal preference. Usually one takes at least two or three cycles, lasting between 30 minutes to two hours. In Finland's numerous summer cottages bathing might go on well into the night. This is especially true in the summer when there's virtually no darkness at night. The sauna session itself is finished off with a thorough wash.

Text and image from Wikipedia.

## Method

This stamp could be purchased on the shop when you log into your account while inside the country.

You will keep it and be able to send to other penpals even after you return from your trip.