The Russian Chronicles

[Mariboulg]

Well, this is from a book I have called : The Russian Chronicles and I copied certain parts that I thought were interesting and a bit funny.



Now this part is from: Giles Fisher, Of the Russ
Russian sauna

The Russians heat their pechi, which are made like the German bathstoves, that warm their houses to extreme temperatures, especially in winter, which contrast with the severe cold outside.
Because the Russians are used to these extremes of boht heat and cold, they bear them patiently. You can see them at times come out of their bathouses steaming and sweating, and fumin as hot as a pig on a spit, and yet, immediately, to season their bodies, leap into a river stark naked, or douse themselves with cold water, and in the depth of the winter at that.

This is from Primary chronicles
Curious practices

St-Andrew came to the Slavs, where Novgorod is now, and he saw the people there and what sort of costoms they have, and how they wash themselves and whip themselves, and he was astonished. He went to the Varangians territory and he arrived in Rome. There he told what he had taught and what he had seen, and said to them, "I saw a wondrous thing in the land of the Slavs, when I was coming here. I saw wooden bath houses. The Slavs heat them up greatly and take off their clothes and become naked. They douse themselves with tanning fluid; and they take young twigs and they beat themselves to the point that they can hardly walk out alive. And they douse themselves with cold water and thus revive. And they do this every day, not being tortured by anyone, but they torture themselves. They do it as washing, and not as torment" All those who heard this were astonished.

[Wendist]

Hello Mariboulg

I think that the sauna ( or pechi or bastu ) is a wonderful invention. I often go to the public baths and spend some time in the sauna. It is very relaxing and afterwards I feel refreshed and at ease.

There are lots of saunas (both private and public) in both Sweden and Finland and I asume that our traditions are pretty similar to the ones in Russia.

Do you know anything more about the use of saunas in todays Russia? Do you have any personal experience of sauna-bath?

Regards Thomas

[Mariboulg]

So are you from Finland ?
Well, I now live in Canada and so if one wants to go swim in a lake in the middle of the winter, it is possible. Actually here also, I am not sure exactly when it is but during the year there are people who do go swim in the cold water, but I don’t actually practice that kind of activities. I am too scarred to get a cold and die.
And about the sauna, I guess it is relaxing.

[Wendist]

Hello Mariboulg

No I am not from Finland, I am from Sweden. Not that the difference is very big when it comes to saunas. Our two countries has a long history in common and I think that traditions and techniques concerning saunas are pretty similar. As your first post shows, the art of sauna-bathing is very old and I belive that both Finns and Swedes got it from the Russians centuries ago.

Today saunas can be found everywhere. In public baths, hotels, sport arenas or factories. It is not only a question of cleanliness but the sauna has a social function as well. Anywhere betwen two and fifteen people sitting in the warmth talking and laughing, having a great time, that can be very relaxing and refreshing.

You do not necessarily have to jump into a lake afterwards(even if a puritan may find it the only acceptable method), if you live in a city then a cold shower will have to do. The "flogging" is optional to.

The sauna can be an attraction on its own.
http://www.junosuando.com/sippibelle/f0107.htm
http://www.icehotel.com

The first link is to a "riverboat" sauna and on the second you can read about the sauna in the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi in northern Sweden.

I think a sauna would be a perfect supplement to those russian dachas but I have no real knowledge about it.

Regards Thomas

[Mariboulg]

Hi Wendist,
Well I can imagine how relaxing it can be and in a way it is kind of a philosophy of a lifestyle, as you said a group of people gathering together and talking with each other. It is something that brings people together.

And as for the ice hotel, you know in Quebec an ice hotel got opened they took the idea from Sweden. Have you visited that hotel ?

And another thing I like from Sweden is IKEA. I think it is a Swedish company. Any way it is my favourite store.

Dachas in Russia are kind of summer houses that people who lets say live in a city, go spend time during vacation and so on.

[ILay]

hello Mari and Thomas!

Regarding the saunas in Russia -
there are lots of them.

In my city there are hundreds of public banias (saunas) of any kind.

The main difference between bania and sauna is that in Russian bania there's a lot of steam inside (while in sauna the air usually stays dry) and the usage of venick (besoms) made of birch, juniper or oak. Well, seems it need clerification.

Humidity in sauna is abt 3-8% while in Russian bania - abt 60-70%. Thermal conductivity of dry air is by far lower, so the temperature in bania usually does not exceed 70 degrees (and for a sauna lover 90 degrees is considered cold).

Another issue is air pressure. Saunas are built to have about the same air pressure inside sauna and outside it.
In the bania the pressure should be higher. And in the bania heater there should be even higher air pressure in order to provide the steam dissociation.

Heater should be done in the way that the stones inside stay as hot as possible. So, heater is always closed (opened only then the water should be thrown in). Otherwise the dissociation will be to low, steam particles to big and there will be a feeling of extreme hot.

Of course there are steam saunas (mainly in Finland). The main difference between them and bania is the way steam is done. In sauna you throw the water on the stones (situated in the main sauna room). In order not to overheat - the temperature of the stones is about 300 degrees. In Russian bania the heater is situated mainly in the 'predbannik' - a room before the main room. Only a part of it is in the main room. Temperature of the stones in Russian bania are about 600-800 degrees. So the steam is quite different.

After you get steamed enough in the bania you take a besom and hit your self (or ask someone for assistance) with it. This is just a sort of massage so don't think we pity of masochism

--------------------------

Well, and of course most of the people try to build a bania on the dacha. I'm not a big fan of it. But as a perfect relaxation and healthbuilding tool saunas/banias are perfect!

[Mariboulg]

Thanks ILay for the clarificatins.