Saunas, winter and daily life in Finland

For most Americans, Finland's winter is the biggest adjustment of the move. It is long, cold and dark, and daily routines change around it. Finns have well-tested ways of coping, and the sauna sits at the center of many of them. This guide covers what winter is like, how to keep your home and body comfortable, and how to enjoy a sauna without breaking the unwritten rules.

What a Finnish winter is like

InfoFinland, the information service of Finnish public authorities, describes the climate as colder than in many other countries, with weather that varies sharply by season.

• The winter months are December, January and February, and November and March are also cold.
• Temperatures are often below zero Celsius in winter and can fall below minus 20. Northern Finland is colder than the south and can drop below minus 30.
• The sun rises late and sets in the afternoon. Winter days are darker in the north, and in the northernmost part of Finland the sun does not rise at all for several weeks.

Spring begins at the end of March in the south and the end of April in the north. The reward comes in summer, when evenings and nights are bright and June has the most daylight.

Dressing for the cold

InfoFinland's advice is simple: dress warmly. At minimum, wear a warm winter jacket, a hat, gloves, a scarf and warm winter shoes, and wear several layers in cold weather.

In practice, Americans from milder states should budget for a proper winter wardrobe soon after arrival. Layering lets you adjust between freezing streets and warm indoor spaces, buses and shops. Footwear with good grip matters as much as warmth on icy sidewalks.

Coping with the dark

InfoFinland acknowledges that the lack of daylight can make people tired and anxious, and lists ways to feel better:

1. Keep in touch with family and friends.
2. Exercise regularly.
3. Eat healthy.
4. Make sure you get enough vitamin D.
5. Get a bright light therapy lamp.

On vitamin D, InfoFinland's everyday life guidance notes that people in Finland usually do not get enough from food and sunlight because winters are dark, and advises a supplement unless you regularly eat fish or foods with added vitamin D. Children aged 17 or younger need a daily supplement all year round.

Plan a winter routine before November: a regular exercise slot, social plans on the calendar, and a light lamp on your desk. Newcomers who wait until January to adjust tend to feel the dark more.

Heating and energy at home

Winter is also when your energy bill climbs. InfoFinland's energy-saving guidance gives concrete numbers:

• Lowering the room temperature by one degree saves about five percent of the energy spent on heating.
• The recommended temperature is 18 to 20 degrees Celsius for bedrooms and 20 to 21 in other rooms.
• Peak hours for electricity use are 8.00 to 9.00 and 17.00 to 19.00 on weekdays. Avoid running power-hungry appliances then.

If your contract has a price that changes by the hour, shifting laundry and dishwashing outside peak hours makes a visible difference.

Candles and fire safety

Finns light a lot of candles in the dark months. InfoFinland's home safety guidance warns: do not leave candles burning unattended, and do not burn them near curtains even when you are in the room. Switch off electrical devices after use and do not use devices with faulty cables. If an electrical device catches fire, do not use water; use a fire extinguisher or fire blanket.

Getting around in winter

If you drive, InfoFinland notes that Finnish law requires cars to have winter tyres in winter. You can use studded or non-studded snow tyres. Studded tyres handle better on slippery roads, but you cannot use them in summer. Public transport keeps running through the winter, so many newcomers leave the car at home on the worst days.

Enjoying winter outdoors

Winter is also a season to be outside. InfoFinland's outdoor activities guidance stresses that Finland has a lot of nature to explore in every season, and everyman's rights let you move freely in nature as long as you do not disturb others or harm the environment. Skiing, walking on cleared trails and simply getting daylight at midday all help with the dark.

The Finnish sauna

InfoFinland calls the sauna an important part of Finnish culture. It is for washing and relaxing, peace and quiet are part of the experience, and many Finns go every week.

### What to bring

• a towel;
• shampoo and shower gel;
• a sauna bench towel to sit on.

Drink water before you go in, because the sauna is very hot and you will sweat a lot.

### How it works

1. Have a wash in the shower.
2. Sit on a bench. The Finnish sauna is usually 70 to 90 degrees Celsius. If the upper benches are too hot, sit lower.
3. Throw small amounts of water on the stove with the scoop, so you learn the right amount for you. Be considerate of others in the room.
4. Take breaks outside for fresh air or cool down in the shower, and drink water.
5. Afterwards, relax. Good food and drink round out the experience.

You can sit quietly or talk calmly with others. Start carefully, watch how you feel, and leave if you feel weak or unwell.

### Nudity and mixed saunas

This is the part Americans ask about most. Swimming halls and many public saunas have separate saunas for women and men. In swimming halls you may not wear a swimsuit in the sauna; you go in naked, and you may cover yourself with a towel if you like. In many mixed saunas swimwear is allowed. InfoFinland is direct: Finns are used to being naked in the sauna, and there is nothing sexual about it.

### Safety at home

Sauna suits all ages when you follow the instructions. Keep children away from the hot stove. A sauna must never be turned on without supervision, because it is always a fire risk, and nothing combustible should be stored in it. If you never use the electric sauna in your apartment, remove the stove's fuse so it cannot switch on by accident.

A winter checklist for newcomers

• Winter jacket, hat, gloves, scarf and warm shoes before November.
• Vitamin D supplement and a light therapy lamp.
• Thermostats set to the recommended range.
• Winter tyres if you drive.
• A first public sauna visit planned, with towel and bench towel packed.

Common questions

How cold does it get in Finland in winter? Temperatures are often below zero Celsius and can fall below minus 20; in northern Finland they can drop below minus 30.

Do you have to be naked in a Finnish sauna? In swimming hall saunas, swimsuits are not allowed, though you can cover yourself with a towel. Many mixed saunas allow swimwear.

How hot is a Finnish sauna? Usually 70 to 90 degrees Celsius. Sit on a lower bench if the upper ones are too hot.

Are winter tyres required in Finland? Yes. Finnish law requires winter tyres on cars in winter, studded or non-studded; studded tyres cannot be used in summer.