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National Sauna Week

February 18-24, 2024

Poster for Sauna Week Promotion

FFN chapters, other organizations and businesses may use the 2024 winning poster to promote their National Sauna Week events.

The poster is for promotional and personal use only for National Sauna Week 2024. The art is not to be sold. The artist, Debbie Paver, retains all rights to the art.

You may download the art as a pdf or jpg by clicking below.

The winner of the Inaugural Sauna Poster Art Competition

Congratulations to Debbie Paver of Calumet, Michigan, who created the winning entry in the first National Sauna Week poster contest.

“I am incredibly excited to be a part of this tradition,” says Debbie. The graphic designer grew up in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, and loves calling the Upper Peninsula and the Keweenaw Peninsula home. She enjoys hiking, time with her dog and her “beloved Lake Superior,” rockhounding, photography, vinyl records and invitations to her friends’ sauna.

In her Artist Statement Paver says, “For National Sauna Week I want to celebrate the sauna’s role as a central opportunity to rejuvenate, meditate and connect with your own mind, body and spirit. In the heart of winter when our region is cascaded in a palette of blues, whites and grays, the beckoning warmth of the sauna shines brightest. This piece is a celebration of the power of the sauna’s abilities to warm us to the core and provide the energy to wholly enjoy and appreciate both the power and majestic beauty of a Keweenaw winter.”

The judges—noted Vermont artist and FFN Artist of the Year Eric Aho and Finlandia Art Gallery Director and Curator Carrie Vander Veen—pored over the 15 entries from all corners of the United States.

They were impressed by many of the designs submitted, and engaged in quite a bit of discussion before deciding on Debbie Paver’s interpretation, saying, “We liked the elegant, refined view of the winter palette of the Keweenaw and also the inviting warmth of the sauna, making the sauna experience welcoming to all.”

Sauna is the most known Finnish word in the U.S., within and outside of the Finnish-American community. While many people have experienced sauna at hotels, spas and gyms, in the time of COVID-19, home saunas have become popular additions.

Finlandia Foundation National has declared the last week in February “National Sauna Week” to build awareness and appreciation of this aspect of Finnish and Finnish-American culture.

Our third annual celebration was February 18-24, 2024, and featured a variety of online programs with experts on different aspects of sauna culture. Many FFN chapters and independent businesses also hosted events in their communities. Click below for links to our virtual events at the FFN YouTube channel.

Scroll down for songs, stories, proverbs, facts, Chef Mikko’s recipes and cooking demo and more!

We offer sauna information and fun content at this website, our social media and YouTube channel. Explore these pages and check back often, as we update and add to the content all year long.

Mark your calendar for the next National Sauna Week, February 16-22, 2025.

Below, click to view a brief introduction to sauna.

Enjoy exploring the resources here, and feel free to forward tips, information, resources, songs, stories and other fun stuff related to sauna to: kath@finlandiafoundation.org

Sauna Resources

Public Saunas

Connections

Sauna Week Tools

Recipes

Sauna Facts

Sauna: What’s the big deal?

Get the scoop on sauna.

How do you say sauna?

Hint: it doesn’t rhyme with “fauna.”

Finnish sauna 20170826

How do you build a sauna?

We can help you dream. Or, once you have the right tools, help you plan.

More Sauna

Songs and Stories

Books and Other Media

Proverbs and Quotes