Wood Stove Sauna

The sauna forms an integral part of Finnish Christmas celebrations. One should visit the sauna in the afternoon of the Eve, before Christmas dinner. The wood stove sauna is the one and only right sauna (with or without the chimney), at least during special days like Christmas. Still the electric saunas are nowadays more common. The metal stove with stones on top is heated with birch wood fire. The sauna is ready when the stones are hot enough to evaporate the water thrown on them into steam. The Christmas celebration can begin.

Recordings: Leena Ahonen