Pirts, Sauna, Hamami, Furdo - Latvia, Finland, Turkey, Hungary - Four European Bathing Traditions

Foto: Pirts, Sauna, Hamami, Furdo - Latvia, Finland, Turkey, Hungary - Four European Bathing Traditions; autors: Pirts, Sauna, Hamami, Furdo - Latvia, Finland, Turkey, Hungary - Four European Bathing Traditions

The following is a press release from the Natural History Museum of Latvia:

Exhibition on bathing traditions in four European countries will be opened in the Natural History Museum of Latvia, 4 K.Barona str., Riga, on July 20, 2010

This exhibition of four ancient European sauna traditions, initiated by the Ambassador of Finland Maria Serenius, is an outcome of international co-operation. It is produced by the Museum Centre Vapriikki in Tampere, Finland and by three Latvian Sauna (pirts) unions.
[Sauna]

Bathing habits are based on deeply rooted religious beliefs and cultural traditions of different peoples. The Latvian pirts and the Finnish sauna are examples of the Baltic-Nordic style bathing culture. They are similar in their structure and manner of usage.

But only in Latvian pirts, natural plants and herbs are used as part of the bathing routine and flapping with besoms made of twigs and herbs gathered in the fields, forests and meadows of Latvia, is one of the main activities. Besides, only in Latvian pirts you can experience the so called herbal rug – aromatic and energetically strong herbs on the sweating shelf. Smell and softness of herbs make you feel fantastic!

In the old days, a pile of heated rocks was considered to be the sauna. The Finno-Ugric word löyly, the hot steam rising from the rocks when water was thrown on them is thus older than sauna building. It was covered first by animal skins of the nomadic peoples, later by a tent, and finally by log huts.
[Hamami]

The Hungarian language has a corresponding word for löyly, lélek. Both of these words also mean the human soul, which leads us to the core of the spirituality and effects of bathing. In Latvian the same idea is conveyed through the expression "pirts gars" or the spirit of sauna. Comparing the Hungarian bathing tradition to another south European bathing tradition, the Turkish hamami, opens up an important part of both the Roman and Byzantine cultural and religious history from the medieval times to the present.

The exhibition, which displays different European countries’ bathing cultures, their ethnography, architecture, and health effects, shows us something about ourselves, and teaches even more about others and the skill of how to enjoy bathing together.

All four baths have been tested and photographed by specialists confirming the excellent experience. Jari Jetsonen is a well known photographer of Finnish architecture, whose photos have featured in many books and exhibitions presenting Finnish architecture from summer houses to churches. He has also photographed baths and bathing all over the world.
[Furdo]

With another sauna enthusiast, professor Juha Pentikäinen, Jari Jetsonen published the book Finnish Sauna, Japanese Furo, Indian Inipi in 2001, introducing the continuing sweat bathing traditions on three different continents. Photos of this exhibition were taken in the bathhouses of Finland, Turkey, and Hungary, and present the continuance of European sweat bathing traditions.

Photos displayed in the Latvian part of exhibition are taken by Latvian photographers Agris Dzilna and Dainis Jansons.

The exhibition will be open for visitors July 21- August 15, 2010.

The exhibition is organized by: Museum Centre Vapriikki in Tampere, Finland, Latvia Pirts Association, Union "Latvijas pirts", Union " Lauku pirtnieki", Embassy of Finland in Latvia.

The exhibition is supported by: UPM – Kymmene Forest AS, Recreation centre "Bruveri", Guest house "Upesruki", Ecological farm "Ezermalas", Limbazi Museum, Salaspils National Botanical Garden

Events related to the exhibition:

*Seminar "Pirts – Sauna Traditions in Latvia and in Finland", July 21 at 10.00 - 14.00

Natural History Museum of Latvia, 4 K. Barona street, Riga