Smoke sauna tradition in Võromaa (Estonia)
Nomination: Representative List 2014
EN: A typical Vöromaa smoke sauna: a small crossbeam building without chimney. Fire is burning in the stove, smoke comes out from below the roof.
EN: A family makes preparations for heating a sauna: firewood is taken into the sauna, water is carried, children make fresh whisks.
EN: In the Vöromaa smoke sauna the stove is near the door and the wooden benches where the sauna-goers get a steam, are across the stove. Washing water is brought to warm in the sauna.
EN: A smoke sauna may also be built half into the ground. Such a sauna stays warm for a long time. Water is brought to the sauna from a nearby body of water with buckets.
EN: At the beginning of the heating there is a lot of smoke that will be let out from the door. As the heating advances, smoke lessens. The air in a heated sauna is clean, because the sauna is aired before bathing.
EN: The sauna is "halfway" heated, there is no more smoke in the lower part of the sauna room. Firewood is added little by little.
EN: A dried birch whisk is softened in a water pot before going to the sauna.
EN: Steam bathing and whisking in a sauna
EN: Salted meat is smoked on grills near the ceiling of the sauna room where the heat is appropriate for the meat to be baked through and permeated with smoke in 1,5-2 days. Such meat keeps for a long time.
EN: An old sauna gets new roof and front room walls. The master's tools are modern, but building follows old customs.
