In Finland, sauna culture goes one step further. | Photo courtesy of Löyly
In Finland, sauna culture goes one step further. | Photo courtesy of Löyly
If you’d told me upon arrival that I’d be plunging into the frigid Baltic Sea before leaving Helsinki, I would have laughed in your face. It was February, when the average temperature in the Finnish capital hovers around 30 degrees (-20 in the north in Lapland). Naturally, submerging myself in the ice-packed ocean wasn’t high on my agenda.
But a winter swim in Finland a country that relishes outdoor winter activities isn’t a crazy act of daredevilry. In fact, it’s common: these icy water immersions go hand-in-hand with a visit to a sauna, a ritual baked into Finnish culture.