Sauna Rules, Observed in Finland’s Public Saunas

The Bucket Master

"Löyly" is the soul of a true Finnish sauna. A Finnish sauna is steamy, humid, and scorching hot. Someone is constantly pouring water on the stones, making it hard to breathe. Over time, you get used to it and start looking not just for any sauna, but for one that’s been heated up with water and a bucket.

In the hottest public saunas, no one even pours water: the bucket hangs down from the ceiling, with holes drilled in it, and water pours onto the stones in a continuous stream.

It’s interesting to observe the social dynamics around the bucket.

Whoever sits by the bucket becomes a sort of «bucket master». In public saunas, there are usually two buckets per room. The «bucket master» takes responsibility for maintaining the temperature and humidity throughout the room, and you’re very lucky if an experienced Finn is doing it. Because sometimes people from other countries start pouring water on the stones, turning, for example, a «mild» sauna into a branch of hell (yes, saunas in Finland are often categorized by heat level).

It’s mostly men who handle the bucket, although there are few, if any, gender stereotypes in Finland. If it just so happens that the only spot left is next to the bucket, you sit there but politely look the other way, using body language to show that you won’t be the bucket master. Then the bucket master becomes the one standing by the second bucket.

While one handles the ladle, the other simply sits. When the water in the bucket runs out, the bucket master goes to refill it (usually, the water is drawn right into the sauna room), and then the second bucket master takes his place. The first bucket master, even after bringing the bucket back, does not get in the way of the second. He waits patiently until the second bucket is empty and goes to refill it.

Leaving the sauna and leaving an empty bucket behind is considered bad manners.

A spot on the shelf

In a public sauna, Finns sit on the upper benches; the lower ones don’t provide the desired warming effect. But when the sauna is crowded, an interesting dynamic unfolds. Those who enter sit on the lower benches. When someone leaves the upper benches, the people from the lower ones move up.

If someone enters and both the upper and lower benches are occupied, they can either leave and look for another sauna (in larger complexes, there are several to choose from) or modestly wait at the entrance. Then someone from the upper benches will usually give up their spot by leaving, and those on the lower ones move up, while the newcomers take the lower spots.

Clothing

In Finland, public nude saunas have been banned due to incidents of harassment. Bathing naked is still very common in private saunas or among friends, but in public saunas – this is no longer the case; everyone wears swimsuits or swim trunks. People often wear socks or gloves. Socks or slippers – because the walkways between saunas run along the street. Finns also say that wearing a felt hat is more of a Russian tradition.

Life Hacks

Since in a Finnish sauna you often find yourself on the cold street instead of in a warm foyer, a few useful life hacks from the Finns come in handy over time.

1. If you wash up before putting on your swimsuit, you won’t have to freeze in the cold outdoors. Likewise, wash your hair after the sauna, not before.
2. Finns don’t bring a towel with them because, since saunas are humid, it gets wet very quickly and is unpleasant to dry off with afterward. The towel is usually kept in a locker or near the shower.
3. Water. Finns all drink a lot of water in the sauna. Tap water in Finland is safe to drink, so you can fill a reusable bottle right where the bucket is.

The sauna is probably the Finns’ favorite pastime. People go there to chat, for corporate events, and just to pass the time. But if you don’t feel like socializing, there’s the option of silent saunas – just enjoy the steam!.