Finnish Midsummer and sauna belong together. I am quite sure that every Finn has an idea of their perfect Midsummer sauna. Expectations and memories vary, but the Midsummer sauna is an experience that unites us Finns.
Midsummer sauna
The traditional Midsummer sauna includes birch trees and leaves, a vihta (sauna whisk), a wooden sauna and delicious food and drinks. The Midsummer sauna, like the Christmas sauna, is often taken during the day. This way, you can enjoy the nightless night. Of course, I know many sauna-enthusiasts who “stay” in the sauna all day, evening, and night.
The Finnish Midsummer weather seems to be the most talked-about topic of the year. It is discussed and speculated on all spring. Some people even try to “forecast” the Midsummer weather many months in advance. However, the weather remains a surprise until the end. In recent years, the weather has been sadly quite chilly in Finland.
Due to the changing weather, the sauna plays a big role in the Finnish Midsummer celebration. It is always nice and warm in the sauna!
The midsummer sauna can be a wooden sauna, an electric sauna in an apartment building, or a public sauna in a city. You can also rent an entire sauna space for your friends and family. For example, there are many saunas you can rent for Midsummer evening or night in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
The Midsummer sauna is prepared with almost the same devotion as the Christmas sauna. A clean and freshly washed sauna brings the right Midsummer atmosphere.
Midsummer includes a wide variety of traditions. One of the most important ones is decorating the sauna with birch leaves. A sauna whisk made of birch (koivuvihta) is also a big part of the Finnish Midsummer sauna.
Traditionally, when the sauna is warming up, you go to pick the birch leaves and branches. Of course, you can prepare your whisk and decorate your sauna earlier if you want to.
Sauna whisk
Spread your birch twig/branch selection on the floor. Pick up the ones that are best suited for a vihta. The Finnish newspapers always print instructions for making your own sauna whisk. However, if you do not live in Finland, YouTube has a lot of videos that show you how to make a sauna whisk.
I can make a sauna whisk, but I’m no expert. However, my vihta does its job and it gives off a great scent for the whole sauna.
Longer birch branches are used to decorate the sides of the sauna doors. I don’t know where this tradition came from, but many people do it. Once we went camping and decorated the tent doorway with birch twigs to make it more festive.
Birch leaves and birch whisks give such a wonderful smell to the sauna. In my opinion, birch scent is the best thing about Finnish summer and midsummer. If you do not want to make a whisk, you can add a few birch leaves to the sauna water to give the same effect.
If you dry the sauna whisk properly, you can use it throughout the Midsummer weekend or even a week.
Keep in mind that branches or twigs should not be taken from trees without the permission of the landowner. You should also ask the birches for permission. Always be respectful and thankful towards nature.
Silver birch is considered to be the best for sauna whisks. You can also add a few downy birch twigs as they are more fragrant.
You can also make a “boy” or a “girl” vihta for the Midsummer sauna. The girl whisk is teardrop-shaped, and the boy is round-shaped.
If you do not have any birch trees nearby, there are ready-made midsummer birch sauna scents available in most (Finnish) stores. 2-6 drops are enough per scoop.
If you live outside of Finland, you can buy birch sauna scents from my shop.
Read more: Sauna-Shop
Midsummer sauna to-do list:
- Wash (and oil) the sauna the day before or the morning of Midsummer.
- Chop the wood for the sauna.
- Bring the wood in.
- Heat the sauna.
- Collect birch twigs/branches.
- Make your own vihta.
- Place your vihta in the cold water.
- Decorate your sauna and house with birch branches.
- Make sure your sauna is warm.
- Undress and go enjoy the sauna.
- Whip with the sauna whisk.
- Take a swim in the lake, sea or cold pool to cool off.
- Repeat as many times as you want.
- Enjoy the beauty of the nightless night!
We Finns take a sauna before any important celebrations. It is a great way to cleanse your mind and body. The Finnish sauna is said to even have supernatural cleaning properties.
Finnish Midsummer includes:
- A sauna
- A birch whisk
- Birch branches for decorating
- Delicious food and drinks
- Midsummer bonfire
Read more: What is a birch whisk?
Midsummer magic is also a big part of the Finnish Midsummer. There are many ways to “see to the future” in the magical Midsummer’s night. You can even see a glimpse of your future spouse if you are lucky! Many of these magical traditions are somehow connected to the sauna.
All in all, the sauna is and will always be an important part of the Midsummer celebration!
Is the Midsummer sauna important to you? Share your experiences in the comments.
