Family Sauna Day idea
We invite you to celebrate Family Sauna Day on the first Saturday after the autumn equinox (22 September). Why choose that day? First of all, because every major natural and astronomical change is usually associated with a holiday: e.g. Easter, Dew, Christmas. In contrast, the autumnal equinox has no more prominent holiday associated with it. However, it was customary to go to the sauna before each holiday after the completion of major works. The sauna was usually set up on a Saturday evening, and its warmth was enough for everyone: men and women, children and old people, and even a stray traveller was welcome. It is also a good time for a cosy gathering in the sauna, as it is the natural time to want warmth. It is said that when the active season is over and we spend more and more time at home, “the fire comes home”. The warm summer days, the summer jobs and activities come to an end, and we spend more and more time with our families and loved ones.
On this day, we invite everyone who has the opportunity to build a sauna (personal or rented) and invite their family and loved ones to join them. The essence of this celebration is to be with your own people, in your own circle, to give thanks, to rejoice, to do something good and kind for each other.
At the same time, it is a reminder that the tradition of visiting bathhouses, which has been included in the national Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2019, is an important part of our identity, which it is important to support, promote and foster by involving as many people as possible.
Family Sauna Day 2024
This year, Family Sauna Day is on 28 September, but as it’s a personal, family celebration, it’s okay if you celebrate it in your circle on Friday or Sunday. Or maybe all of them. More and more organisations are supporting and promoting the idea: the Association of Professional Sauna Makers, the Lithuanian Sauna Academy, the Lithuanian Sauna Friends Society, the TV programme “Vantos Lapas”, sauna hobby clubs, rural tourism farms, public and private saunas. In order to encourage more people to join in the fun, the initiators of the idea have decided to announce a different theme each year.
The theme for the year is “Warm up those who care for others!”
And of course, invite everyone to the sauna. But this time, we especially encourage you to invite and pamper those people who struggle to find time for themselves while caring for others. A sauna is a great way to show care and appreciation! Look around and you’ll find one! Maybe it’s your mother or grandmother who often cooks dinner for the family instead of going to the sauna, maybe it’s your husband who builds and maintains the sauna, maybe it’s the doctor or babysitter who takes care of your family… Or maybe even the bath attendant who scalds everyone, gives them a bath, but leaves himself unshowered and says: “Ai, I don’t need anything…” Now it’s your turn to do something good for them. And maybe someone else’s – to thank you for the warmth of the bath. In a community sauna, it’s especially important to share, to exchange treatments, to make sure everyone is comfortable, cosy and happy. We encourage you to share your ideas in the Facebook group dedicated to this occasion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1490776278340709/
And don’t forget that the whole point of this day is to go to your (or your favourite) sauna with your loved ones!
For information on events, see:
- On the dedicated Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/seimos.pirties.diena
- This year’s events group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1490776278340709/
- Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/family.sauna.day/
- www.pirtininkuasociacija.lt
- www.pirtis.lt
- www.pirtiesbiciuliai.lt
- https://www.facebook.com/vantoslapastv
The initiative is supported by:
- The Association of Professional Bathmasters
- Lietuviškos pirties akademija
- Lietuviškos pirties bičiulių draugija
- TV programme “Vantos lapas”