 A traditional Russian banya is a three-room hut made of log. Banya consists of an entrance room (“predbannik”), a washing room and a steam room (“parilka”). The peculiar feature of the true Russian steam bath is relatively low temperatures (not rising above 50-60 degrees centigrade) and high relative humidity (90 to 100 per cent). It is proved that such condition enhance evaporation and heat penetration.
Steam bath in Russia has gained its popularity back in the 5-6 century. People of all social classes visited banyas. Not only was banya a place for hygienic procedures, but also plenty of customs were connected with this place. For instance, it was considered necessary to visit banya before and right after the wedding. During the visiting a special ceremony was held.
Many foreigners when travelling to Russia, wrote about Russian tradition of washing in a stem bath. The practice seemed sometimes peculiar to the Western people, since they didn’t have anything alike in their culture.
The Construction of Banya
The best kinds of material to build a Russian steam bath are fir and pine tree. Stone stove is a necessary component of the banya, which is uniquely built and is used for a number of different purposes such as heating the bath itself, heating the water, vaporizing the room with the help of water, splashed on the hot stones of the stove.
Types of Banya
• Heated black (“po-chornomy”) was the first variant of banya, that’s why it is rather inconvenient when it comes to usage. There is no flue and the smoke goes out through the hole in the roof and covers the walls with black soot.
• Heated white (“po-belomy”) was a later invented banya construction. The smoke is let out through a flue in such a steam bath, and the stove is heated from the separate room – entrance room.
• One more type of banya is a so-called banya “inside the stove”. A big stone stove is heated, after what the coals are taken to the corners of the room and the floor is covered with straw. Then you are allowed to enter and wash yourself.
What is Venik?
From the barbarian times Slavs practiced splashing yourself with a bunch of dried birth, oak, maple or other tree branches in banya. The tradition has remained since those times, maybe, because the effect is very much reviving and health-bringing. This bunch of branches is called venik. Such a practice is considered to be a great massage, which increases the blood circulation, stimulates evaporation and cleansing of the whole organism, as well as improves metabolism. Besides, the ether oils present in the venik exert a positive influence on the condition of one’s skin and have an anti-ageing effect on the whole body.
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