The Finnish sauna has deep roots dating back thousands of years, originally used for both relaxation and hygiene. Traditionally, saunas were communal spaces where Finns would gather to socialize, conduct meetings, and even give birth as the cleanest and warmest place of the house. Sauna rituals were traditionally accompanied by unique customs, such as whisking oneself with birch branches (vihta or vasta) to stimulate blood circulation and cleanse the skin. In Finland, there are more saunas than cars, with approximately 3.3 million saunas for a population of around 5.5 million people.
