Sauna etiquette

[catfish78]

I figured this would be the right area to post this, culture anyway.
Here is the scenario. I was in the public sauna after swimming. There were 5 of us in at the time when a man and his son came it. Here is what I think is an issue, after no more that 30 seconds the man starts to throw water on the rocks. My question is, is 30 seconds enough time in to start throwing water? I mean how does that guy know that someone hadn't thrown water 10 seconds before he came in? Is there a minimum time limit when you should start throwing water? Or is it cool to walk in and throw water before you even sit down?

[Pursuivant]

If it was cold in there...

[CarmenfromTexas]

All I know is to hit them with a bundle of leaves while saying, "Bad, naughty, Finn!"

[catfish78]

It was far from cool, Pursuivant. The temps was up for sure.

[Jukka Aho]

I was in the public sauna after swimming. [...] Is there a minimum time limit when you should start throwing water? Or is it cool to walk in and throw water before you even sit down?

Public swimming halls typically mandate you don’t wear your swim trunks or swimsuit to the sauna because of hygienic reasons and the evaporating chlorine. Aside from that, there are usually no written rules about sauna behavior (such as throwing water.) Common courtesy would dictate you take others in consideration at least to the extent of not overdoing the water-to-the-stones thing if it’s already hot up there. If you like your sauna bath particularly hot, you could ask the others if they’re OK with kovat löylyt – throwing lots of water on the stones, generating lots of steam – before actually going for it, of course.

Finns – unlike Germans, for example, who might have a hourglass in their sauna indicating the suitable time for the next scoop of water – generally don’t believe in rationing löyly with rigid time limits... or we actually tend to ridicule the whole thought and practice of doing so. The “correct” amount of steam and the suitable pace of throwing water on the stones is all about personal preference. It will vary from one person to the next; there’s no single correct way of doing it. But if you’re the one holding the ladle it’s always polite to ask your fellow sauna-goers whether more löyly would be in order... or if they still want (or can cope with) some more, after throwing a couple of ladlefuls.

Whatever you do, the sauna faux pas is throwing lots of water on the stones and then escaping the hot room yourself, at the hottest moment, leaving the others to bake alive in there. You should reap what you sow...

[filecore]

What he said. Generally, Finns will ask (or give an inquisitive glance) before throwing water on if there are strangers in the sauna with them (the presence of others does not imply strangers, as Finns often go to the swimming pool with friends). However, as with anywhere, you'll always find one who just throws more on until it's at his own preference, without taking anybody else into consideration. This is not a uniquely Finnish trait. As for it "already being hot enough" before this person has entered... that's entirely subjective. For all you know, he found it really cool and decided to be nice and make it comfortably warm. Many foreigners often don't like it as hot as Finns who are lifelong sauna users. The next time you go into an occupied sauna and find it cool, consider that those already in there may not want extra heat added. It's a very personal thing. Finally, there are the utter bastards who throw loads and loads of water on without asking, stay there for a couple of minutes, and then leave - that's definitely not polite. Perhaps that's how they like it at home, but some people have trouble realising that it's a public sauna and they can't just do as they like when others are present. You have to either learn enough Finnish to complain, or learn to suffer in silence like a true Finn!

[Mook]

You can always go to a lower bench...

Often water is chucked on the stove after the door is opened - which lets out a lot of the heat.

Anyhow, was it _that_ hot? Once apon a time I got taken to the sauna society in Lautasaari. We went to the hottest sauna - it was 130 degrees and full of guys with blisters on their backs who were wearing felt hats. I lasted 30 seconds on the bottom bench. The main problem being that every time someone came in, he put some water on the stove

[filecore]

We went to the hottest sauna - it was 130 degrees and full of guys with blisters on their backs who were wearing felt hats.

It's not the temperature that makes a good sauna - the best temperature is tied to the type of sauna. In my opinion, a generic electric sauna tends to be dry and harsh above 60, a standard wood-burning sauna is best at 65-85, and some other types do best at around 100-120. The king of all saunas, the magnificent and wonderful savusauna, feels amazing even though it often has the lowest temperature of any sauna. It's largely personal preference, though; some like it wet, some like it dry, some like it hot, some like it cool...

I lasted 30 seconds on the bottom bench.

Ah, the kiddies' bench. I was once in a wood-burning sauna for about 30 minutes at 110-115ish, but it was nice and moist and I didn't even realise the temperature had gotten so high. I don't generally get them much above 80, though.

[Mook]

Info about the sauna society can be found here: http://www.sauna.fi/inenglish.html

[catfish78]

The heat was not an issue for me. I like a hot sauna. Just thought it was odd that you just sit down and start throwing water. No asking, head nods, winks, nothing. And the water bucket was right next to me.

[peteh]

It seems like you are the one complaining - if the guy sat down and asked you to throw some more water on, what would you say?
Sorry - can't do that, have to wait a while. !"#¤%.
Its a sauna - it should be hot and no one is in charge! you can sit next to that stove and constantly throw water on those rocks (agreed that once the rocks are dry again).
Remember you can always get up and leave and come back later when it is cooled down.

[catfish78]

It seems like you are the one complaining - if the guy sat down and asked you to throw some more water on, what would you say?
Sorry - can't do that, have to wait a while. !"#¤%.
Its a sauna - it should be hot and no one is in charge! you can sit next to that stove and constantly throw water on those rocks (agreed that once the rocks are dry again).
Remember you can always get up and leave and come back later when it is cooled down.

I don't believe I have complained once. I have no problem with the heat, I could probably out last a lot of Finns in the sauna. This was not a question of me being uncomfortable with the conditions in the sauna. Just to do with etiquette.

And if the guy would have asked I would have had no problem with throwing more water.

[filecore]

Just to do with etiquette. And if the guy would have asked I would have had no problem with throwing more water.

Ah, now we hit the crux of the problem - he didn't communicate with you, or acknowledge your presence (or existence) in any way. Welcome to Finland.

[catfish78]

Just to do with etiquette. And if the guy would have asked I would have had no problem with throwing more water.

Ah, now we hit the crux of the problem - he didn't communicate with you, or acknowledge your presence (or existence) in any way. Welcome to Finland.

That has nothing to do with the my original question.

[filecore]

My question is, [...] is there a minimum time limit when you should start throwing water?

The answer would appear to be "obviously not".