🧖 Joulusauna — Christmas sauna in Finland 2025–2026: why Finns steam on 24 December and how to join the ritual without stress

In this article, you will learn how not to "miss out" on the Christmas sauna

Imagine: at noon on 24 December in Turku, the Christmas peace announcement sounds — the streets fall silent, the air becomes denser and softer at the same time. A couple of hours later, amber lights appear in windows across the country — this is Joulusauna, the warm heart of Finnish Christmas. Even those who rarely bathe on other days go to the sauna on this evening — to cleanse themselves, calm down and get in the mood for the family table, gifts and the silence of the winter night. We will tell you how to join the tradition respectfully and without awkwardness: when to go, where to find a working sauna, what to take, how to behave, what to drink, how to remember this evening — and why saunas (culture and etiquette) and wellness in Finland are not just "spas" but a language of intimacy.

History and "soul": Joulusauna — not just washing

The Finnish sauna predates Christianity in these parts. It was used for childbirth, healing, reconciliation and farewells. With the advent of Christmas, the ritual took on a special significance: purification before the holiday became an obligatory part of the household routine. On Christmas Eve, the sauna is quiet; there is no arguing or "competition for heat". There is a gentle folklore character called saunatonttu, the "sauna spirit," who is respected and not angered by noise or carelessness.
In 2020, Finnish sauna culture was added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage — a symbol that steam is a living tradition passed down through families and communities, not just a passing fad. Today, Joulusauna looks modern (sometimes even in bold architectural forms), but the meaning is the same: to cleanse and slow down before the most important family evening of the year.

How 24 December unfolds: a home scenario, silence and light

For most Finns, Joulusauna takes place on the afternoon of the 24th, usually after noon and before dinner. The logic is simple: first, purification and warmth; then, the festive table (kinkku, laatikot, rosolli), gifts and long conversations. Some families have a "morning parade" — a short morning sauna "to get the day off to a good start" — and another gentle session in the evening, but before dark: "the sauna on Christmas Eve does not go into the night."
Inside, few words are spoken. You can hear the water hissing on the stones (löyly), the wood crackling, someone carefully opening the door (quickly, so as not to let the heat escape). In good homes, candles are lit, spruce or birch branches are added to the water (in your own sauna, not a public one), non-alcoholic glögi is served, and icy snow is kept on hand for "contrast".

If you are in Finland for the first time, the easiest way to join in is through a public sauna: many city saunas in Helsinki and Tampere have special Christmas hours from 24 to 26 December, and some close on the evening of the 24th (a holiday for families). Below is where to look and how to choose.

Where to steam if you are in the city: Helsinki, Tampere, Oulu

Helsinki.

● Kotiharjun Sauna — the "heart" of the wooden city tradition since 1928: separate men's and women's sections, wood-burning stove, authentic atmosphere, no pretensions — just löyly and warm conversations on the steps with a mug of water.

● Löyly — a cult architectural sauna on the shore: public mixed (in swimsuits), access to the sea all year round. It is better to book in advance — slots are taken on public holidays.

● Kulttuurisauna is a minimalist design sauna by the water: quiet, advance booking required, bring your own towels and pefletti (seat).

● Lapinlahden Lähteen sauna — an intimate urban classic near the old hospital (often with special Christmas sessions).

Tampere is the sauna capital.

● Rajaportin Sauna — Finland's oldest operating public sauna (1906). The stone legend of Pispala: intense heat, separate sections, a courtyard for cooling off — a "school of respect for tradition".

● Rauhaniemi Folk Spa is a public bathhouse with avanto (ice bathing) and a view of Näsijärvi, open all year round.

● Saunaravintola Kuuma — a restaurant-sauna by the water: smoke and wood-fired steam rooms, an ice hole, warm cuisine. Perfect for a "city dweller's Christmas Eve".

Oulu.

● On the Nallikari coast in winter, you can attend public sessions (including a tent sauna on the ice during the season) or book private sauna spaces at restaurants on the shore. The "steam, ice and north wind" format is memorable for a long time.

Prices and formats (guidelines for 2025–2026).

● Urban public saunas: €8–15 per entry (usually without a towel).

● Designer and iconic locations: €17–35 per slot/2 hours (sometimes includes access to the sea/ice hole).

● It makes sense to book in advance (24–26 December are busy dates).

● Swimwear policies vary: mixed public saunas — swimsuits; separate traditional saunas — no swimsuits (bring a towel and a seat cushion).

Etiquette and unspoken rules: "everyone is equal in the sauna"

Finns don't care "who you are or how you got there": everyone is equal in the steam room, and you can feel it. A few simple rules that will immediately make you "one of them" (and are ideal for Saunas (culture and etiquette) and wellness):

● Shower before entering. This is out of respect for others and for the wood.

● Ask permission for löyly. Before splashing water on the stones, ask: "Saako heittää?" ("May I throw?").

● Silence and a quick door. Open the door quickly and be quieter than usual in the steam room.

● A peffetti/towel on the bench is a must.

● Short rounds. 8–15 minutes, cool down, drink water, if desired — avanto (hole in the ice/sea), then again.

● No alcohol in the steam room. Alcohol and heat are a bad combination: if you want a drink, have it afterwards, in a café, and in moderation.

● No photos. Cameras/phones in the steam room are taboo.

● Vihta/vasta. Appropriate primarily in private or "your own" company; in public — only if it is customary and you do not disturb others.

● Equality of bodies. Do not stare at or comment on other people's bodies; the sauna is not a place for sexual innuendo.

Joulusauna checklist: "warmth, modesty, water"

Small ritual kitchen: glögi, saunamakkara and "water for löyly"

Glögi (non-alcoholic). A litre of currant/grape juice + a cinnamon stick + cardamom/cloves to taste. Do not boil, just warm up; serve with raisins/almonds.
Option 18+. Add a little still red or dessert wine to the ready-made non-alcoholic glögi (but do not take it into the steam room — only in the relaxation area and in moderation).
Saunamakkara. Sausage for "after the sauna" — by the fire in the laavu or on the grill in the courtyard (not on the stove!). Bread, mustard, cucumber — and you're already inside a Finnish "little holiday".
Löyly water (for home saunas). Only clean water. Add aromas to a separate evaporator bowl or lightly on the stones if it is your private sauna and this is permitted. In public saunas, do not add any oils to the stones.

Health and safety: when not to be a hero

● Heart/blood pressure/pregnancy. Discuss with your doctor, choose a gentle heat and short rounds.

● Alcohol and heat. A holiday is not a reason to mix the two. First the sauna, then a sip of wine/beer at the table (if you drink).

● Avanto — only with a hat/gloves and thinking about your breathing: calm entry/exit, short.

● Children. Finnish children "grow up" with the sauna, but the heat is moderate, the time is short, and water is close at hand.

● Skin/hair. Oily masks, strong smells and "body bombs" are a no-no; the steam room loves clean water and silence.

Map tip: iconic and visitor-friendly saunas

A small map for orientation: urban legends and famous "first-time-here-for-sure" places. Statuses and hours from 23 to 26 December change every year — see the current announcements on the websites/social networks of specific saunas.

Beginner mistakes — bright stickers

When the steam "settles," silence and recognition remain

A Christmas sauna is not a place to go, but a way to spend the evening. You enter the steam room with December on your shoulders — melted snow and the hustle and bustle of lists — and you leave quieter and calmer. The air smells of fir and birch, your skin feels clean and tired, and your head is filled with laughter, dinner table conversations and short questions for your children about the "most important" things of the year. If this guide has helped you put together your own Joulusauna, share it with those who need a warm ritual for 24 December, save it for yourself, and write in the comments which sauna places and little habits made your holiday in 2025–2026 truly homely. We will add to the map and update the lists of "Christmas hours" based on your findings.