A Russian rural banya. Photo by Flikr user Carlfbagge.

Russian MiniLessons: The Russian Bath House

Published: October 4, 2020

The following bilingual Russian MiniLesson is meant to build your vocabulary by providing Russian phrases within English text. Hover over the bold Russian to reveal its English translation.

ะ’ะฒะตะดะตะฝะธะต ะฒ ะฑะฐะฝัŽ

ะ‘ะฐะฝัย has always played an important part in Russian culture.

Since ancient times, Russians have said that ะฑะฐะฝั ะผะพะถะตั‚ ะพั‡ะธัั‚ะธั‚ัŒ ะฝะต ั‚ะพะปัŒะบะพ ั‚ะตะปะพ, ะฝะพ ะธ ะดัƒัˆัƒ. The ะฑะฐะฝัย was also thought in previous times to be highly medicinal for nearly ailments. Russians once said that ะตัะปะธ ะฑะพะปัŒะฝะพะผัƒ ะฝะต ะฟะพะผะพะณะปะฐ ะดะฐะถะต ะฑะฐะฝั, ั‚ะพ ะตะผัƒ ัƒะถะต ะฝะธะบั‚ะพ ะฝะต ะฟะพะผะพะถะตั‚. While today it is not usually recommended for sick people, the ะฑะฐะฝั is still regarded as a powerful way to maintain oneโ€™s health and keep oneโ€™s spirits up.

A traditional ะฑะฐะฝั, whether private or public, will consist of several parts. The ะฟั€ะตะดะฑะฐะฝะฝะธะบ, which literally translates to โ€œbefore the banyaโ€ is a dressing room for stripping down before entering the chamber. There is also a washing room or space called โ€œะผะพะตั‡ะฝะพะต ะพั‚ะดะตะปะตะฝะธะตโ€,ย โ€œะผั‹ะปัŒะฝะพะต ะพั‚ะดะตะปะตะฝะธะตโ€ย or sometimes even just โ€œะฟะพะผั‹ะฒะพั‡ะฝะฐัโ€. Sometimes the ะฟั€ะตะดะฑะฐะฝะฝะธะบ and ะฟะพะผั‹ะฒะพั‡ะฝะฐัย are in a single room with the ะบะพะผะฝะฐั‚ะฐ ะพั‚ะดั‹ั…ะฐ, where one takes breaks from the high heat and humidity, socializes over drinks and snacks. Sometimes all three rooms are separate compartments.

The main part of the ะฑะฐะฝั is, of course, the heat chamber which is called the โ€œะฟะฐั€ะฝะฐัโ€ or โ€œะฟะฐั€ะธะปะบะฐโ€.ย Both derive their names from the Russian word โ€œะฟะฐั€โ€.ย 

Banya A basic floor plan for a banya. See more (in Russian) here

Most frequently, the level of ะถะฐั€ ะธ ะฒะปะฐะถะฝะพัั‚ัŒ ย is manually regulated by pouring water on stones which are traditionally ั€ะฐะทะพะณั€ะตั‚ั‹ ะดั€ะพะฒัะฝะพะน ะฟะตั‡ัŒัŽ. The Russian ะฑะฐะฝัย is known as one of the most extreme of the worldโ€™s heat baths, with temperatures that range from 150-200F and humidity often approaching 80%. Most saunas in America, for instance, very rarely exceed 150F and 25% humidity. Russians ะฟะพะดะดะฐัŽั‚ ะฟะฐั€ัƒย by pouring water on the stones often and in small amounts, which allows this even, high steam to coat the room. They call this ะปะตะณะบะธะน ะฟะฐั€. Just be careful while pouring, as the stones are heated to well over 1300F!

In Russian ะฑะฐะฝัย culture, it is customary to say โ€œั ะปะตะณะบะธะผ ะฟะฐั€ะพะผ!โ€ to those who have just returned from the ะฑะฐะฝั. This literally translates to โ€œwith soft steam!โ€ and means, loosely, โ€œI hope you enjoyed the banya!โ€ The phrase is perhaps best known as the subtitle of the classic Russian film ะ˜ั€ะพะฝะธั ััƒะดัŒะฑั‹, ะธะปะธ ะก ะปั‘ะณะบะธะผ ะฟะฐั€ะพะผ!, about a man who gets drunk at his traditional new year ะฑะฐะฝัย celebration and ends up going home to the wrong apartment in the wrong city.

To allow the body to sweat freely, the ะฑะฐะฝั is typically used in the nude. While there are sometimes male and female compartments (or sessions), the ะฑะฐะฝัย is often coed. Modest people can cover up with a ะฟั€ะพัั‚ั‹ะฝั and in fact, most commercial ะฑะฐะฝั facilities recommend that you wear a ะฟั€ะพัั‚ั‹ะฝัย for sanitary reasons. Other common supplies to take to the banya include ัะฐะฝะดะฐะปะธะธ, ะผะฐั…ั€ะพะฒะพะต ะฟะพะปะพั‚ะตะฝั†ะต, ัˆะปั‘ะฟะฐะฝั†ั‹,ย ะฒะฐั€ะตะถะบะธ to hold the ะฒะตะฝะธะบะธ, which are bunches of small, leafy birch or oak branches tied together.

The process begins by simply sitting in the ะฑะฐะฝัย and ะฟั€ะพะฟะพั‚ะตั‚ัŒ. After about seven minutes, one should exit to the ะบะพะผะฝะฐั‚ะฐ ะพั‚ะดั‹ั…ะฐ, rest, and preferably drink water. On the second ะทะฐั…ะพะด, the truly Russian tradition of ะฟะฐั€ะธั‚ัŒ ะดั€ัƒะณ ะดั€ัƒะณะฐ ะฒะตะฝะธะบะพะผย begins, but to be truly effective, the sweating process should be well underway. This โ€œmassageโ€ helps lift impurities from the skin and adds a pleasant fragrance to the person and room.

ะ—ะฐั…ะพะดั‹ can be numerous and a visit to the ะฑะฐะฝั can often last several hours. ะ—ะฐั…ะพะดั‹ย are interspersed with sessions of ะพั‚ะดั‹ั…ะฐั‚ัŒ ะฟะพัะปะต ะฟะฐั€ะฝะพะนย or ะฟั€ั‹ะณะฐั‚ัŒ ะฒ ั…ะพะปะพะดะฝัƒัŽ ะฒะพะดัƒย or even ะบะฐั‚ะฐั‚ัŒัั ะฟะพ ัะฝะตะณัƒ.ย Russians believe that these sudden shifts in temperature improve circulation and cause the body to release endorphins that improve the functioning of nearly all organs.

ะ‘ะตะทะพะฟะฐัะฝะพัั‚ัŒ ะฒ ะฑะฐะฝะต

Russians are known for making their ะฑะฐะฝั experience extreme, with long ะทะฐั…ะพะดั‹ followed by snacking on pickles, vodka, and beer in the sessions of ะพั‚ะดั‹ั…ะฐั‚ัŒ ะฟะพัะปะต ะฟะฐั€ะฝะพะน. However, all of these products are dehydrating and ill-advised. If you ever feel light headed or ill in the ะฑะฐะฝั, excuse yourself and leave, explaining if needed that ะฒั‹ ะฟะปะพั…ะพ ัะตะฑั ั‡ัƒะฒัั‚ะฒัƒะตั‚ะต ะธ ะฒะฐะผ ะฝัƒะถะฝะพ ัั…ะพะดะธั‚ัŒ ะทะฐ ะฒะพะดะพะน.

While a visit to the ะฑะฐะฝั can leave one feeling refreshed and invigorated, there are obviously health risks as well. Such sudden shifts in temperature can be ะพะฟะฐัะฝั‹ ะดะปั ะปัŽะดะตะน ั ะฑะพะปะตะทะฝัะผะธ ัะตั€ะดั†ะฐ, as can prolonged exposure to high temperatures. ะ—ะฐั…ะพะดั‹ should be kept to under 15-20 minutes. ะžั‚ะดั‹ั… ะผะตะถะดัƒ ะทะฐั…ะพะดะฐะผะธ should last at least 15-20 minutes. ะœะพั‡ะธั‚ัŒ ะณะพะปะพะฒัƒ is prohibited before entering the ะฟะฐั€ะฝะฐั for the first ะทะฐั…ะพะด, as a wet head can heat too quickly, causing stress to the brain.

One should ะฟะฐั€ะธั‚ัŒัั not earlier than 1-2 hours after having meal but also not an empty stomach. Drink often and stick to water or at least juice and ะบะฒะฐั. Soda and strong tea are also not preferable in the ะฑะฐะฝั. For food, stick to sausage, cheese, and bread and avoid the salt.

A ะฑะฐะฝั session is usually ended with ะฟะพะผั‹ะฒะบะฐ. There is a tradition of ะฟั€ะฐะฒะธะปะพ ั‚ั€ะตั… ะฟะพะผั‹ะฒะพะบ. The head should be washed in one washbasin, the body in another, and a third is used for ะพะฟะพะปะฐัะบะธะฒะฐะฝะธะต. However, many modern Russians will just shower or take one last plunge in the cold water.

Also, one should not ัั€ะฐะทัƒ ะปะพะถะธั‚ัŒัั ะพั‚ะดั‹ั…ะฐั‚ัŒ after leaving the ะฟะฐั€ะฝะฐั. Stroll around for several minutes first to allow your circulation to come back down to equilibrium.

ะœะธั„ะพะปะพะณะธั ะฑะฐะฝะธ

Given these health issues, and given that the ะฑะฐะฝั is usually a small wooden structure where a fire is kept and alcohol often consumed, it is not surprising that the ะฑะฐะฝั figures in some of Russiaโ€™s most horrific mythology.

While Russians believed in the ั†ะตะปะตะฑะฝะฐั ะธ ะพั‡ะธัั‚ะธั‚ะตะปัŒะฝะฐั ัะธะปะฐ ะฑะฐะฝะธ, and generally associated it health with purity, it was also inhabited by the ะฑะฐะฝะฝะธะบ who was perhaps the most fickle and easily offended of all the spirits that Russians once believed in.

To gain the favor of the ะฑะฐะฝะฝะธะบ, Russians would sacrifice a black hen to it after constructing the ะฑะฐะฝั and before using it the first time. The hen was suffocated and buried under the entrance. While Russians typically wear crosses, many would remove them before entering the ะฑะฐะฝั as it was thought that the holy object would upset the evil spirit. Water intended for the ะฑะฐะฝั should not be drunk. Loud, sudden noises should be avoided and cursing is not allowed in the ะฑะฐะฝั, as is thought that any damnation pronounced in the ะฑะฐะฝั will come true and often come true sooner rather than later.

Guests were also supposed to be treated with great respect at the ะฑะฐะฝั. The guest should enter first, be given plenty of food and drink, and offered a bed and rest after the session. Not abiding by rules of hospitality would offend not only the guest โ€“ but possibly the ะฑะฐะฝะฝะธะบ as well. Those who upset the ะฑะฐะฝะฝะธะบ were often maimed or killed by this powerful spirit.

While safety should be remembered at all times when using the ะฑะฐะฝั, it can be an invigorating, healthy experience and a great taste of Russian culture. If youโ€™ll be in Moscow, treat yourself to a trip to the Sanduni Banya, an 18th century palace of a banya complex that catered to (and still caters to) Moscowโ€™s business elite. They also have pictures on the wall of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Travolta, and Scotty Pippen using their facilities. However, they have facilities within the price range of even students if you go as a group. Of course, many will tell you that you should go to a โ€œreal banyaโ€ โ€“ one in the country with a river or pond to jump into outside โ€“ there are also commercial opportunities to do this, but again, itโ€™s best to go as a group, and best to have a Russian guide you. So ask around, make some friends in Russia, and go do it!

About the author

Josh Wilson

Josh Wilson

Josh lived in Moscow from 2003, when he first arrived to study Russian with SRAS, until 2022. He holds an M.A. in Theatre and a B.A. in History from Idaho State University, where his masters thesis was written on the political economy of Soviet-era censorship organs affecting the stage. At SRAS, Josh assists in program development and leads our Internship Programs. He is also the editor-in-chief for the SRAS newsletter, the SRAS Family of Sites, and Vestnik. He has previously served as Communications Director to Bellerage Alinga and has served as a consultant or translator to several businesses and organizations with interests in Russia.

Program attended: SRAS Staff Member

View all posts by: Josh Wilson

Andrei Nesterov

Andrei Nesterov

Andrei Nesterov leads SRAS' Research Services, performing remote archive research and consultations for researchers around the globe. Andrei graduated from Ural State University (journalism) and Irkutsk State Linguistic University (English). He also studied public policy and journalism at Duke University on a Muskie Fellowship and taught Russian at West Virginia University. As a journalist, he has reported in both Russian and English language outlets and has years of archival research experience. He has travelled Russia extensively and penned many stories on the โ€œreal Russiaโ€ which lies beyond the capital and major cities. Andrei also contributes news, feature stories, and language resources to the SRAS Family of Sites.

Program attended: SRAS Staff Member

View all posts by: Andrei Nesterov