Finnish Center to celebrate the sauna
FITCHBURG >> Saunas are not only a part of our daily lives but play a role in some Finnish holiday festivities and the Finnish Center at Saima Park is excited to invite the community to celebrate them.
A Celebration of the Sauna will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the center, 67 Scott Road, as Finlandia Foundational National designates the last week in February as “National Sauna Week”.
“When Finns emigrated to this country, many of them built summer camps and saunas by nearby lakes,” said Lorna Sulin, board member, Finnish Center at Saima Park. “The next generations happily use them, finding it both relaxing and invigorating to go back and forth between the hot sauna and the cool water.”
Several activities are planned, beginning with a Pannukakku Breakfast from 8 until 10 a.m. “or until food is sold out,” said Sulin.
The community is welcome to enjoy Finnish oven pancake, bacon, sausage, fruit, orange juice, Finnish coffee bread, and coffee, tea, or cocoa. Cost is $10.
Loaves of Finnish coffee bread and cinnamon rusks will also be for sale, along with vendors displaying and selling their work including Karen Kemp, beekeeper Susan Parviainen (Son of a Bee), Linda Kiuru (Lark Knits), and Michelle Radzewicz selling her homemade jewelry, paintings, and clay figures.
“Join us after breakfast, at 10:30 a.m., when membership secretary Marci Haneisen will host a short
presentation on some interesting facts, history, and trivia about the traditional Finnish sauna,” Sulin said.
People are then invited to share related stories and to sing fun sauna songs with long-time member Roy Helander.
“Also, be sure to visit our Sauna Museum between 9 a.m. and noon,” said Sulin. “Park manager Frank Ruosteoja has worked hard to restore the once functioning sauna and will be there to greet you.”
Marci Haneisen said sauna has been an important part of Finnish culture for more than 1,000 years.
“The ritual of sauna was traditionally practiced on Saturday evening to cleanse the body and calm the mind,” she said. “Today, Finns continue to enjoy the many benefits of sauna.”
In addition to the celebration, Saima’s trails will be open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
“If there is snow, strap on your cross- country skis or snowshoes,” she said. “If not, wear your hiking shoes.”
Trails vary from flat fields to gentle slopes and steeper hills. A limited supply of equipment is available to borrow.
To learn more about the Finnish Center at Saima Park, visit saima-park.org or “Friends of Saima Park” on Facebook.