It was fun to write about nudity in different cultures. We Finns know that nudity and sauna belong together. However, this is not the case in many countries. In this article, I will talk about different nudity cultures.
What kind of experiences do you have with nudity in your country? What about in other countries?
It is important to remember that people are different. The purpose of the article is to give an overview of what a sauna is like in different countries. This does not mean that every individual acts this way. I am trying to give a “national overview”. Do not take it too seriously -it is all in good fun.
Finland
For us Finns, nudity is a pretty natural part of life. From an early age, we are used to seeing our parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters and friends naked. It is normal. Teenagers don’t always feel comfortable being naked in the sauna. In that case, they can go to a single-sex sauna or they can use swimming costumes. Some Finns take a sauna naked, others do not. It is not a big deal.
However, most Finns think that the most natural way of taking a sauna is completely naked. Only then do you feel truly free. Clothes don’t feel tight, nothing restricts you. I fully agree.
Germany
In public saunas (sauna worlds) in Germany, men and women usually go to the sauna together. Some spas have a separate sauna day for women or even a private sauna area where women can relax.
You are always naked in a German sauna. You can wrap a towel around you if you feel uncomfortable. Swimsuits should not be worn.
Germany is my stomping ground; I have lived here for ten years. The nudity of the Germans is a little different than that of the Finns. In Germany, we are open about nudity and mixed saunas are normal. However, you get different glances here than in a Finnish sauna.
The FKK or Frei Körper Kultur (or nudism) comes from East Germany, which makes us more relaxed around nudity. Sure, some people do not want to shower with other women/men. They go to separate stalls to take a shower. I hate the idea of cramped places. You can hardly fit your hands and feet in those tiny “booths”.
Some Germans seem to think that the sauna is a good place to flirt. I find that a bit annoying. For me, a sauna is a sauna, nothing else. There should not be anything sexual about it. The whole concept disgusts me.
I have had similar experiences in writing my blog. Finns are not interested if someone wants to take a sauna naked or wear a swimsuit.
Germans often ask if I go to the sauna naked. I am not sure why it is such a bug deal. I always try to answer these questions as matter-of-factly as I can. I have thought about writing an article on this topic as many people seem to find it interesting.
Read more: German sauna culture
France
For French people, nudity belongs to romantic or sexual relationships. Nudity is strongly associated with sex and eroticism. Mixed saunas and nudity are out of the question. Even young children are not allowed to run naked in the garden or at home if other people are around.
You either wear a towel or a swimsuit in a mixed sauna. You do not go to the sauna naked, even with your friends. The French women think their body is exclusively for their loved one. Breastfeeding a baby is also out of the question if there is an older child in the family.
Read more: French sauna culture
England
I do not know whether this applies to the whole of the UK or just to England. The English are really shy. They keep their swimsuits firmly on, even among family members. Several expatriate Finns have told how their British friends do not want to go to the sauna. They don’t want to go because they don’t want to be naked. They are not used to being naked even with friends.
Most Brits are horrified by the idea that Germans and the Finns are casually naked in front of the opposite sex.
Read more: English sauna culture
Turkey
Turks are not used to nudity. They may have never seen their parents or siblings naked or even with a swimsuit. For us Finns, this feels strange.
It’s really hard to get Turks in the sauna. They don’t necessarily feel comfortable even if they wear a towel or swimsuit. I am not sure whether they would feel OK about taking a sauna with their own spouse.
However, I have met a few Muslims in public saunas. They have used a towel to cover themselves. I think that’s okay. We need to respect each other and understand that not everyone is used to being naked in front of others.
The Turkish bath or Hamam is a great place. There, men and women bathe all “mixed up”, but everyone wears swimwear. Some spas also have Hamam towels.
Japan
The Japanese are real “nudists”. They think it’s completely fine to be naked in a single-sex sauna. Japan also has spas specifically for couples. You are naked also in these spas.
Public spas have separate areas for men and women. A small towel is provided for guests to cover intimate areas. It can also be used on top your head.
Read more: Japanese sauna culture
Russia
The Russians are similar to the Finns. Nudity is a part of life. Everyone has seen their parents and siblings naked. One part of the reason for this is definitely the sauna culture. Daily and / or weekly washing and personal hygiene routines are performed in the sauna.
Public saunas are generally single-sex saunas. In that case, no towels or swimwear are used. In rural areas, saunas may be mixed saunas. Swimwear and towels may then be used. In Russia, family and friends decide for themselves how and with whom they want to have a sauna.
Men like to spend a whole day in the sauna world. They even bring food and drinks. Men are completely naked. They use sauna whisks on each other and wash each other’s backs. There I nothing strange about it.
Read more: Russian sauna culture
Spain
The Spanish are also really shy. Nudity in front of others (even family members) is not OK. Only a few children have seen their parents naked. I think this is about to change as the younger generations are more liberated.
The Spanish don’t even change clothes in front of others. In Spain, many places have individual shower cubicles. They may bring dry and clean clothes into the shower cubicle so that no one sees them naked. Or they change clothes in the locker room under the towel.
This is pretty interesting. I have paid attention to how Spanish women like to dress. They are not afraid of showing a bit of skin. For example, they might sunbathe topless, wearing only a tiny bikini bottom. This applies to all women, regardless of age and size. I feel like Spanish women are generally very proud of their bodies and like to show them off. One would think that their self-image is very good.
It is a tough task to get a Spanish man (or woman) to the sauna naked. I’ve heard of incidents where a Spanish man has refused to take a sauna with naked Finnish men. He was only comfortable taking a sauna with his spouse.
The exception confirms the rule as they say. Especially in surfing circles, Fuerteventura (with lots of nudist beaches, thanks to the Germans) is more relaxed. People are naked under the wet suits and when they change clothes, they are not afraid to show a bit of buttock.
I hope this article on nudity in different cultures was useful. I did not cover all countries in this article. If you want, you can send me a message about your culture and perhaps I can do a part two!
What kind of experiences do you have with nudity cultures in other countries?
