"Born in the sauna and die in the sauna." This ancient maxim, widely accepted by Finns, is proof enough of the importance of saunas in the Finnish mindset. Earlier saunas were also the place where Finnish women gave birth. It was believed that only the sauna was hygienic and clean, and that the steam could alleviate the pain of childbirth. Jari, the local person who took us to examine the smoke sauna, told us that his grandmother was born in a sauna.