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Nude Mixed Sauna
The Nude Mixed Sauna in Finnish Society
Attitudes towards nudity are as diverse as the world’s
cultures, especially when it comes to saunas and the customs and rituals
associated with sauna bathing. While a nude mixed sauna is almost
impossible to find in North American hotels and resorts, the Finns are very
accommodating in this regard. In fact, it’s almost an insult to wear your
shorts or swimming suit in Finnish saunas,
even when mixing with the opposite sex.
While not all Finns would take a sauna in the nude when in the mixed company
of strangers, nudity is an inherent ritual which is part of the traditional
Finnish sauna culture and etiquette. For example, if you go to a public
swimming pool in Finland you are expected to take a shower in the nude
before accessing the pool. Public saunas are often frequented by their
patrons minus the swimming suits, even in the mixed company of the opposite
sex.
The Finnish home sauna until recent times (before plumbing became
commonplace) was also a place to wash and clean up. Women even gave birth in
saunas! It follows that mixed nude bathing is a part of the Finns’ culture.
Wearing a swimming suit is considered unhygienic – why would anyone wear
anything while sweating in the heat of a sauna?
Visitors to Finland sometimes go to great extend to avoid the inevitable
invitation by their host or business associate to join them in their home
sauna. You need not be concerned; most Finns understand your reservations
and won’t expect you to bathe in the nude in the mixed company of people you
just met. Unless, of course, you are comfortable with the idea or learn to
get over it during your stay in Finland.
See our articles on: How to build a
sauna and pre-built modular
saunas
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