For Finns, the sauna is much more than just a place to get warm, it’s a sacred space where some of life’s most important moments happen. It has been a place for birth, healing, reflection, and even saying goodbye. If you want to understand Finland, you need to understand its sauna traditions.

A place for life’s big moments

In the old days, saunas were the cleanest, warmest rooms in the house, so many Finnish babies were born there. Later in life, the sauna was also where the dead were washed and prepared for burial. It's the cycle of life beginning and ending in the same room.

The sauna elf (Saunatonttu)

Every sauna has its guardian spirit, the saunatonttu. This little elf was believed to protect the sauna and its users, but only if he was respected. Making too much noise or behaving badly could anger the elf, so people tried to keep the sauna peaceful and calm. Even today, Finns think of the sauna as a place where you leave everyday worries and arguments behind.

The Birch Whisk (Vihta)

Another beloved tradition is the vihta (or vasta in Eastern Finland), a bundle of fresh birch branches tied together. During sauna, people gently whip themselves with the vihta to massage the skin, boost circulation, and release the fresh birch scent. The ritual is especially popular around midsummer, when the birch leaves are young and fragrant. At Arctos Lapland we have the Vihta available for all our guests, year around.

Rituals

The sauna has also been a place for rituals both serious and fun. For bachelor parties, there’s a quirky tradition where the bride or groom-to-be must shout out the names of all their exes in the sauna to “get rid of them” before marriage. With each throw of water on the sauna rocks, one ex-partner is named.

The honour of lighting the Sauna

In many families, putting the sauna on is considered an honour. It’s a quiet task that carries responsibility: getting the temperature just right, ensuring there’s enough water for steam, and making the sauna welcoming for everyone.

Sauna today

While some of these traditions have faded, the spirit of the sauna remains the same. It’s still a place for storytelling, for laughter and quiet moments, for connecting with yourself and with others. Whether you visit a smoke sauna, a wood-heated one, or a modern electric sauna, you’re stepping into a space where centuries of Finnish culture still live on.