Washed — Born Again: The History of Russian Bathhouses

Although Bathhouse is not modeled on any one tradition, we do take inspiration from bathing culture around the world. Many cultures have a history of communal bathing with their own twist, however, the Russian Banya may be the most well known to sauna enthusiasts.

Russian bathhouses, also known as Russian banyas, have been around for centuries. Despite the exact date of their creation being unknown, the first known mention of Russian banyas was in 440 BCE by Herodotus in his book, “Histories.” He mentions a group of people enjoying a banya north of the Black Sea, in what today would be modern-day Russia.

A banya reaches extremely high temperatures, almost to the limit of what is tolerable to the human body. Although similar to a sauna, a banya stays at around 215 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas other types of saunas only reach a heat of around 145 to 160 degrees.

Banya-goers are massaged with a Venik, a small bundle of leafy branches from oak and birch trees. After about ten minutes in the banya, the move is to then either jump into cold water or snow.

It’s well-documented that the banya has played a significant role in traditional Russian culture. In the past, the banya was both a place for the beginning and the end of life. Women would give birth in banyas, and mourners, following a death, would gather at the banya to ensure their loved ones were warm for the afterlife.

People felt that banyas were the key to a healthy life, both spiritually and physically. Many doctors of the 18th century, including even one of Catherine the Great’s medical advisors, believed that banyas could replace two-thirds of medical needs and were in many ways more beneficial than going to the doctor.

A phrase coined to describe the banya's restorative properties is “pomylsya – budto zanovo rodilsya,” which translates to “washed – born again.” We couldn’t agree more.

Read more about bathing culture in: Ancient Rome and Turkey.