The Slavs mastered the "art of bathing" in the distant fifth century AD. In those days, the baths were called differently - soap houses. Kievan Rus was strewn with small low buildings, heated in black. The buildings provided for only one window, which was located under the very ceiling.
The stoves did not involve pipes, which caused a mixture of soot and soot to settle in the steam room. That is why, from the inside, all the baths were pitch black. Initially, all steam rooms were built of wood. The first brick bath is mentioned in the first millennium AD. The location of this soap shop is also known - Pereslavl.
Kindling methods
Smoke saunas are heated with wood - the use of electricity is excluded. First, the room is thoroughly heated, then ventilated for 5-10 minutes. The bathhouse is given an hour and a half for the carbon monoxide to disappear (otherwise the bathhouse attendants risk being poisoned). When the steam room is cleaned of harmful impurities, its walls are doused with water.
To keep the temperature high, people take a bucket of water with them - to pour it onto the hot stones. One of the main advantages of the smoke sauna is therapeutic aromatherapy. The woody scent, mixed with hay and smoke, is considered to be truly healthy.
Pros and cons of a black bath
In black saunas, the heat is concentrated on the floor, so bathers' feet never freeze. The temperature decreases as you get closer to the ceiling - therefore it is cooler on the upper shelves than on the lower ones. The reason for this heat distribution is simple - the contents of the stove warms up the floor and does not allow it to cool down even in winter.
The main disadvantage of a smoke sauna is the time spent on cooking. Kindling, heating, cooling and washing the walls - all these procedures take up to 6 hours.The heat will last no more than 2-2.5 hours. Not every avid bathhouse attendant is ready to make such “sacrifices” to try an authentic steam room.
It is important to be careful when lighting a black bath. If harmful smoke remains in the steam room after airing, it will corrode the mucous membrane. Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous. If its concentration is too high, visitors can be poisoned or even die under the poisonous fumes.
Where you can try the smoke sauna
These days, black baths have lost out to whites in popularity. There are two reasons for this outcome - white steam rooms are faster to prepare and are safer. In the 21st century, the smoke sauna has the status of a rarity. It is possible to find such buildings in the villages of Siberia or in special museum compositions dedicated to Ancient Rus.
But if you still want to try the smoke sauna, then try looking for establishments that provide such services in your city.