Written by olenka on 17 Sep, 2002
Now I am going to describe the trick, how to feel Russia to your bones. You have to go to banja, Russian sauna. Banja’s healing and preventive qualities are highly advertised by Russians, but most of all a visit to banja is a social event…Read More
Now I am going to describe the trick, how to feel Russia to your bones. You have to go to banja, Russian sauna. Banja’s healing and preventive qualities are highly advertised by Russians, but most of all a visit to banja is a social event that shouldn’t be missed. Very often it is situated in some picturesque place close to the water. The significance of the location of banja for Russians can only be compared with choosing place for a church. Banja looks like a small log house with a stove made of stones inside. The stones are heated by fire, that is maintained by some experienced man. You pour water on the stones with a dipper that has a very long handle to prevent you from burning yourself. Created in such way, humid steam is REALLY hot. There is a saying that after banja even the fire of Satan feels mild. For me personally, going to banja was like a break-through, after which I could fearlessly swim in the ice cold waters of Baikal. You might be offered to experience the black banja, meaning banja without a chimney, so that all fire smoke stays inside, coloring banja's walls in black with soot. Don’t be afraid; such banjas are not built anymore (at least to my knowledge), and your Russian friends are simply teasing you. The MOST important part of the banja ceremony is, however, beating each other with birch branches. During summer fresh branches are used, but Russians also gather branches and dry them for winter, when banja is especially enjoyable. You put them into hot water for about 10-15 minutes to make them soft, and then you start....Beating is a lot of fun, and gives you a lot of positive energy. Birch branches also give the banja a very nice fragrance, and are exceptionally good for the skin (clinically tested on me). If you happen to have banja with really experienced people, they will show you dozens of different techniques of “branch massage”, from gentle strokes to some emotional whipping. The whole process usually takes about three hours. You go to banja, then swim in the lake, drink some tea to replace your fluids (some healthy Russian men drink something stronger), go to banja again, and first of all you socialize. Even if you do not speak any Russian, you will feel a sense of belonging to these nice people that surround you. Close