The history of the Russian bathhouse
The appearance of a bathhouse in Russia has not been recorded anywhere. And there was no one to fix it then. Even for history lovers, it is a mystery where the Slavs got their bathhouse from. Most likely, it will never be found out. The appearance of baths in our latitudes occurred in very distant times. The Scythians who lived on our territory used a kind of baths. A hut was built from several branches and covered with felt. The Scythians brought red-hot stones and sprinkled water on them. To give a pleasant smell, hemp and flaxseed were poured. It was 5,000 centuries before our era.
The first mention of the bath appeared in the manuscript of monk Nestor. He claimed that the Slavs already had baths long before the 12th century. At the beginning of the 17th century, German scientists already wrote about numerous baths in all cities and villages of Russia. They were very surprised how Russians could withstand such heat and still whip themselves with brooms.
Since there were many forests in Russia, it was easier and cheaper to build from wood. Baths were built from it. Stone baths appeared later.
The first baths were steamed in black. This meant that the first baths did not have a chimney to vent the smoke. The furnace was heated with the windows and doors closed. When the room warmed up to 100 degrees and above, heating was stopped. After all the firewood in the furnace had burned out, all the windows and doors were opened to let out all the carbon monoxide. Then the windows and doors would close and you could start steaming.
They were steamed in Russian furnaces then. The Russian oven was large enough to accommodate a person. After the bread was baked, the bottom of the oven was carefully swept and covered with straw. A man on a wide shovel was placed in a furnace and he poured water over the walls of the furnace. Steam formed inside the furnace and it was possible to steam.
In the 12th century, the bathhouse began to be used to help sick people. Vladimir Krasnoe Solnyshko issued a decree on the construction of baths for the infirm, as sick people were called then.
There were baths in almost every house. And for people who could not build a bathhouse because of poverty, there were public ones. The fee for it was very low and anyone could visit the sauna.
In 1733, medical baths began to be built. Alcoholic beverages were not allowed in them.
Every family bathhouse in Russia was unique. Baths could differ in the interior and temperature conditions. Everyone had their own treatment methods, too. But they were united by using steam and brooms for massage and getting great pleasure. Uncover today’s hottest UK deals at Coupon Mama .