Nestor’s Chronicle — on sauna whisk-ers

In an earlier post (on War and Peace and the sauna), I mentioned Nestor’s Chronicle, written by a Russian monk describing the years 850 to 1100 or so.

Nestor recounts the process of whisking during the sauna. While it was a part of ordinary life, he doesn’t sound convinced: “In the country of Slavs I saw wooden spas, very much warmed up, where people took their clothes off, poured leaven on themselves, took some brooms or some sticks, and were whipping themselves” (from the K.J. Erben translation, 1867).

A different translation says “naked people lashed themselves with twigs from a tree, only to douse themselves with cold water at the end. Voluntarily they torment themselves, acquiring pain instead of cleanliness.”

This does not encourage me. I vacillate.

Nikki

Can the sauna be improved?

A sauna is a pleasure — and there are a few things which can intensify the experience. One, apparently, is the use of a birch switch.

Ouch. A switch made of twigs brings punishment to mind. But this whisk-er is not bare whippy twigs — it’s made of soft leaves.

In English, it’s also called a whisk or whisker (which sounds less harsh to me!). Finns in western Finland say vihta while in eastern Finland, it’s a vasta.

 

Those who use a vihta/vasta say it stimulates the blood circulating near the skin. Some find it speeds up perspiration, others say it helps the dirt come out of the open pores, cleaning the skin like nothing else. It is said to feel akin to scrubbing or massaging. Another plus — its birchy aroma.

When I first researched for my book, the Finnish Sauna Society said that a sauna bath without a birch whisk is like food without salt. Since then, they’ve eased up — now they say:

Some people like it very much to increase the pleasure of sauna session by beating themselves with birch whisks and some don’t. Just to respect others privacy and opinion, in some of the saunas birch whisks are not allowed. Generally speaking the whisk is an essential part of the Finnish sauna tradition. The birch whisks’ smell and effect on one’s skin and body are well accepted in saunas all over the country.

Once a person’s skin is thoroughly softened from a round of löyly (which, you may have forgotten, is the Finnish word for “sauna steam”), true sauna fans — or is that fanatics? — use a whisk to swat themselves, either gently or briskly, from head to foot.

Sigh. Did I say for sure I would do this?

Of course more research will be needed. Stay tuned...

Nikki

Whisk-ers* — the first sauna accessory

The right tools make work easier. Apps give us so many options. Seasonings sharpen the taste of foods. Earrings and other jewelry sparkle up a person’s image. Flowers add much to the landscaping around a home.

It’s true for saunas too — accessories can improve the experience. I wrote about sauna scents in an April post, my first comment in an occasional series.

But the real first accessory is the time-honored birch-leaf whisk-er, known in Finland as a vihta or vasta (depending on which part of Finland you lived in). While that tradition never got passed on in my family, it’s important, for some people anyway. 

So, I’ll be exploring the use of whisks in the next several posts — from mentions in historical documents to tips for use and how to make one (with a possible video!). I plan to try it out as well, though I’m apprehensive (to say the least). 

* By now you know whisk-ers are not chin stubble. Nor do I mean whisk-ey or other alcoholic beverages.

Nikki

Buy a copy of Some Like It Hot: The Sauna, Its Lore and Stories from the publisher North Star Press of St. Cloud, Minnesota, or from local booksellers. 

For a personally inscribed copy, send $20 (which includes tax and shipping costs) to: Nikki Rajala, P.O. Box 372, Rockville, Minnesota 56369.

FinnFest 2014 in Minneapolis

Coming soon: FinnFest 2014 is coming to Minneapolis, Minnesota. This year’s theme — “the 150th Anniversary of the Start of Modern Finnish Immigration to North America.” It’ll be at Hyatt Regency Hotel and Conference Center, from August 4-10.

Pre-conference days feature forums, a genealogy workshop and a guided tour to Cokato, Minnesota (the longest continuous Finnish-American community in North America) and special FinnFest seating at a Twins baseball game August 5.

August 7-10 feature lectures on a wide variety of topics, panel discussions, music from folk to classical (mingled with world, jazz, pop and rock). Shop at the tori, for Finnish arts, crafts, books and specialties.

Special art exhibits — Minneapolis Institute of Arts, American Swedish Institute and Textile Center. Special expeditions — a river cruise, the tour of Cokato, the Twins game.

Tickets were priced to include families so children ages 16 and under are free, and Saturday and Sunday are Family Days. For adults, tickets are $35 for one day, $60 for any two days, $80 for all four days. Sounds like a great deal — so get your tickets early.

Nikki

Celebrate your inner Viking* — this weekend

Visit the Midwest Viking Festival and Scandanavian Hjemkomst Festival at the Hjemkomst Center, 202 First Ave. N in Moorhead, Minnesota. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27-28.

photo by Bill Vossler

This weekend celebrates Nordic cultures from ancient times to today. Visitors get two festivals for the price of one (adults $10, children under 12 free), with living history demonstrations outside and contemporary music, food and vendors inside.

I loved everything — costumed dancers and musicians (in half a dozen locations!), displays, artworks, presentations and nifty things to buy, tasty Scandinavian delicacies — but get there early because the food could run out.

*Vikings came from many Norse cultures. At this festival, you could become Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian and/or Swedish (cultures listed alphabetically).

Nikki

And the winner is...

So ends my series on “war and peace in the sauna.” I liked learning how, during all kinds of “wars” over the centuries, the sauna’s heat encourages a different kind of thinking and a way to release resentments.

My sister recalled a story about a heated political discussion: Our parents asked a Finnish friend how they determined a “winner.”

He just said, “Oh I don’t know — we just see who can sit on the top bench the longest.”

 

Nikki

It's Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

My dad shared many things with us, one being the joy of sauna.

Nikki