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Sweating It Out in Finnish Spas 木屋．香草．蒸气：芬兰浴

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For Finnish people, the sauna is an important part of life, and saunas are everywhere. They are found in family homes, apartments, and offices, in woodland areas and by lakes, and even in Finland’s parliament buildings. Families, friends, or business associates will enjoy a sauna together and, in a nation of five million people and two million saunas, it’s obvious that the practice is a major aspect of Finnish culture.

对于芬兰人来说，芬兰浴是生活中很重要的一部分，而且可供享受芬兰浴的桑拿间到处都是。桑拿间常见于住家、公寓、办公室、树林里、湖边甚至芬兰国会大楼内。家人、朋友、生意伙伴会一起享受芬兰浴。在这个人口只有五百万，而桑拿却高达两百多万间的国家，这个活动很显然是芬兰文化中很重要的一个层面。

When taking a sauna, one must remove one’s clothes and sit in the room for some time. The temperature will be between 60 and 100 degrees Celsius, and the steam that we associate withsaunas is created by throwing water onto hot stones that sit atop a wood-burning stove. It’s not unusual to lightly hit the skin with tied-together branches of silver birch, which relaxes the muscles. When the sauna becomes uncomfortable, one leaves the room and jumps into cold water, be that a shower, swimming pool, lake, or ocean. It’s then customary to wrap a towel around oneself and sip a drink with one’s companions before repeating the process two or three times.

洗芬兰浴时，必须褪去衣物然后在桑拿间里面坐一段时间。里头的温度介于摄氏60到100度之间，而常和芬兰浴联想在一起的蒸气，是在柴火炉烧热的石头上洒水所蒸发而成。通常人们会以一束紧绑的白桦树枝轻拍身体以放松肌肉。当芬兰浴开始让人觉得不舒服时，人们就离开桑拿室然后跳入冷水中。冷浴的形式可能是淋浴、游泳池、湖泊或海洋。一般来说人们接下来会用浴巾裹住身体，与同行者小口啜饮着饮料，然后再重复整个程序两三遍。

Taking a sauna in Finland has a very communal feel, and conversation flows freely. However, as saunas are sacred places to the Finns, arguments and foul language are not acceptable. As well as the social perks of the sauna, it’s also said to have wide-ranging health benefits, aiding everything from chronic pain to pimples. Nevertheless, there are risks, so if you want to experience the joy of sweat, make sure you consult a doctor first.

在芬兰洗芬兰浴给人一种群体的感觉，很容易让人打开话匣子畅谈不已。不过，由于桑拿间对于芬兰人来说是个相当神圣的地方，所以不允许任何吵架争辩和口出秽言的行为。芬兰浴除了有助于社交以外，据说对健康也有许多益处，其帮助范围相当广泛，不论是慢性疼痛或是青春痘皆有疗效。然而，洗芬兰浴还是有些风险，所以你如果想体验香汗淋漓的快感，请记得先向你的医师咨询。

－by Alice Davis

Vocabulary

单词发音

obvious [ˋɑbvɪəs] adj. 明显的；显著的

temperature [ˋtɛmprətʃɚ] n. 温度，气温

customary [ˋkʌstəm͵ɛrɪ] adj. 习惯上的，惯常的

wrap [ræp] v. 包，裹

companion [kəmˋpænjən] n. 同伴，伴侣

communal [ˋkɑmjʊn!] adj.〔为同一羣体所〕共有的﹐公共的

acceptable [əkˋsɛptəb!] adj. 可以接受的

wide-ranging [ˋwaɪdˋrendʒɪŋ] adj. 范围大的﹐广泛的

consult [kənˋsʌlt] v. 找（医生）看病；请教

More Information

单词发音

sauna [ˋsaʊnə] n. （芬兰的）蒸汽浴；桑拿浴

woodland [ˋwʊd͵lænd] n. 森林地带

parliament [ˋpɑrləmənt] n. 议会，国会

associate [əˋsoʃɪɪt] n. 同事

aspect [ˋæspɛkt] n. 面貌

Celsius [ˋsɛlsɪəs] n. 摄氏温度

atop [əˋtɑp] prep. 在…顶上﹐在…上面

stove [stov] n. 火炉，暖炉

branch [bræntʃ] n. 树枝；枝

silver birch [bɝtʃ] n. 白桦树

sip [sɪp] v. 啜饮

foul [faʊl] adj. 下流的，恶语咒骂的

perk [pɝk] n. 好处; 工资以外的〕额外收入

aid [ed] v. 有助于

chronic [ˋkrɑnɪk] adj.（病）慢性的

pimple [ˋpɪmp!] n. 面疱; 粉刺

Reading Questions

1. How can we tell that saunas are an important part of Finnish culture?

(A)   From the fact that Finland’s politicians use them.

(B)   From the fact that there are so many saunas in Finland.

(C)   From the fact that using the sauna is compulsory fro Finns.

(D)  From the fact that saunas are found in both rural and urban areas.

2. When using a sauna, which of these actions would you perform last?

(A) Jump into cold water.

(B) Throw water on hot stones.

(C) Hit your skin with branches.

(D) Take off your clothes.

3. According to the article, saunas can help improve your _____.

(A) swimming skills and ability to speak Finnish

(B) ability to stay calm in high pressure situations

(C) chances of succeeding at business in Finland

(D) health, appearance, and social relationships

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