The Sauna and the Finland-Swedes: Identification with a National Symbol

The Finland-Swedes are usually thought of as a homogenous group, although there are considerable differences within the ethnic minority in terms of regional characteristics, social classes and between rural and urban inhabitants. When analysing the responses of Swedish-speaking Finns to various questionnaires, this heterogeneity consistently emerges. Nevertheless, research often aims at identifying characteristics typical for the language group as a whole and comparing these with surrounding groups. Comparisons are primarily made with the Finnish-speaking population in Finland, but the Swedes in Sweden are also sometimes instanced. ln the latter case however, the Finland-Swedes' affiliation to the nation state and the national culture of Finland is usually emphasised. Even if the Finland-Swedes are studied as a group apart from the majority population, as reprsenting a specific cultural constellation, its boundaries with respect to the surrounding culture are, in many cases, blurred and elusive. The distinctive features can often not even be described in terms of actual difference, but rather as nuance. The Finland-Swedes have a capacity for adopting national patterns of behaviour without experiencing any conflict with respect to their own. The objective of this article is to explore to what extent bathing in the sauna is an experience shared with the Finnish-speaking population - a national habit practiced regardless of language