Sauna plays an important role in many cultures including in countries such as Finland, Sweden, South Korea, Japan, Germany and Holland. So what are the differences culturally from country to country in terms of sauna use. Below we take a brief look at the difference between countries.
Sauna is widely accepted as having been introduced by the Finnish and the word 'sauna' itself is a word from the Finnish language, in Finland. There are known to be some variations of sauna which are older i.e. in China but the modern style sauna is a wide part of social culture and life in Finland. More than 50% of households in Finland have a sauna and going to the sauna is something extremely popular in this country, almost like a pastime. Culturally in Finland, men and women use sauna separately with separate areas for each. In Finland though families often use the sauna together and groups of friends sometimes rent cabins near to a lake and enjoy a weekend of sauna and socialising. Part of the sauna experience often involves submersing oneself in a hole in the iced over lake, having come straight from the sauna. Wearing clothes is pretty much frowned upon in a sauna and one would look out of place with a swimsuit or anything else on, in a sauna in Finland.
In Germany and Holland the sauna experience is similar and the rules quite particular, only many of the saunas are very often mixed and clothes are not worn. There are often unspoken rules such as the expectation that you will shower after exiting a sauna and that you will use a towel in certain types of sauna such as a dry sauna and not in a steam sauna. Germany and Holland are both very liberal countries when it comes to sauna use and there are some excellent saunas throughout both countries.
In South Korea, a sauna is for women only and for men only and are popularly known as a mogyoktang and also as a jjimjilbang. Saunas are very popular in Korea and many people spend a hole evening their relaxing in the main area, in the sauna and sometimes taking a short sleep. You can often also check the Internet and read a book etc and really get your money's worth. In Japan they have some excellent saunas and one of the most famous is called the 1000 Man bath. Generally it is similar to Korea and Finland in that it is usually men or women only.
In countries such as the UK many respectable saunas i.e. at health clubs require you to wear a swimsuit and the saunas are mixed. There are a few saunas though which are clothing optional and these sometimes offer days for women only days, men only days and mixed days.
