"Sauna" (sauna)
The origin of sauna
The origin of sauna has different opinions, but a more consistent view is that it originated in ancient Rome . At that time, the ancient Romans used charcoal and volcanic stones to extract heat for the purpose of strengthening their bodies. This was the prototype of modern saunas.
"Sauna" is Finnish, and its original meaning is "a small wooden house without windows." This name is probably related to the origin of sauna.
The original cabin not only had no windows, but also no chimney. The thick smoke made the house black. Therefore, the sauna at that time was called "smoke sauna". Later, some innovative people installed chimneys, and the sauna took on a new look.
However, some places in Finland still retain "smoke saunas", but enjoying it once costs a lot of money and is very time-consuming, because it takes seven or eight hours to smoke a "smoke sauna". real effect.
In fact, the sauna in the early days was not entirely a place for bathing, heating, and recreation. It also had other important functions, such as using the sauna to dry flax, smoke meat, barbecue, and prepare malt for brewing. wait. The sauna was even a place where Finnish women gave birth because it was considered the most hygienic and clean place, and the steam was also believed to ease the pain of childbirth.
Finns have been inseparable from saunas their whole lives since they were born. Finland's total population is 5 million, but there are no less than 1.6 million sauna facilities of various types across the country, which means that there is an average of one sauna room for every three people. For those who have never been to Finland, it may be difficult to imagine. When you come to Finland, you will truly understand the saying "where there are people, there are saunas."
After the emergence of classical sauna in ancient Rome, people in neighboring Northern Europe did not sweat all year round due to the severe cold climate. So in order to try to sweat, they accepted the sauna method of making people sweat profusely, and in On this basis, sauna equipment and bathing methods have been continuously improved. Especially with the development of science and technology, Nordic people have applied advanced technology to sauna equipment, thereby bringing saunas to modern standards. Sauna can be divided into dry and wet according to the bathroom environment and sweating method.
Sauna was introduced to China, first from Northern Europe. Dry sauna was introduced to China from Finland, so it is called Finnish bath. Wet sauna was introduced to my country from Turkey, so it is also called Turkish bath. There is also a saying that the roots of Finnish sauna are in China. This news
was revealed by China Daily on August 1, 1996. According to the signed article, as early as the Spring and Autumn Period in China, the King of Zhao ordered thousands of large red-hot iron blocks to be thrown into a pool to generate a large amount of steam. Then he led his wives and concubines to play in the steam pool. The article also said that before Kublai Khan proclaimed himself emperor, he fainted on the battlefield due to overexertion during a battle. His men burned a large stone red, then poured water on the stone, and then carried the steaming stone to Kublai Khan's side. It is said that this can promote blood circulation. Later, he fell into a deep sleep. He fell asleep and started to mount his horse again the next day.
Taking a Finnish bath is a basic part of Finnish life. Almost every family and workplace has a Finnish bath. Family reunions on weekends and friends get together at ordinary times. One of the best ways to do this is to take a Finnish bath. The temperature of the steam bath should be controlled at about 80°C. You can also use it after a strong heat, then alternate between hot and cold, and the fatigue of running around and nervousness will suddenly disappear, and your whole body will feel comfortable and comfortable. In Finland, sauna is not a luxury and high-end enjoyment, nor is it a symbol of wealth or status. First of all, it is extremely rare for a family to live without a sauna. Whether it is a private residence or a rented apartment, no one will live without a sauna. Even if you don't have a dedicated sauna room for your own use, you must have a public sauna room; if you don't have a complete set of sauna facilities, you must have a simple, small sauna room.
There is a small hotel in the terminal building of Helsinki Airport in Finland. The reason why it is popular with transit passengers is that many people just want to use the time to enjoy the sauna while waiting for their flight. After the Finns took the Finnish bath, their relatives and friends drank cold beer, ate grilled sausages, and chatted happily. During the trip, we can enjoy the infinite fun of life by spending leisure time exchanging ideas with each other.