The benefits of a bath have long been known. Most often, it includes not only hygiene procedures - it is a ritual that is unique for every nation. The unifying factor is the desire of people to receive the energy of water, which heals physical diseases and improves mental state.
Egyptian Baths
The most ancient system of hygiene procedures was invented by the Egyptians. They were distinguished by cleanliness - they often washed and changed clothes, used incense. The priests were supposed to do ablutions 4 times a day, 2 times during the day and 2 times at night.
Baths of Ancient Egypt had an original design. In the basement, fireplaces were installed, and in the upper room - stone beds with holes. The hearths were melted and warm air flowed up through the holes. They could be visited not only by representatives of the nobility, but also by ordinary townspeople. Roman and oriental baths were later built on the same type.
The priests of Egypt treated people with water procedures. This was mentioned by Euripides, he fell ill while traveling around the country and was cured exclusively by water procedures.
Ancient Greek Baths
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When it comes to the bath, Ancient Greece immediately comes to mind, where the bath ritual was as important as visiting temples.
Historians believe that the buildings first appeared in Sparta. These were round rooms - laconicums, with a stone hearth in the center. A round shape must be mandatory - the ancient Spartans believed that such a design distributes heat more evenly. Then the tradition of steam bathing spread throughout the country, steam rooms were called terms (therme - warmth).
Ancient Roman baths also worked according to the Greek model, more like palaces. Consisted of 8-10 rooms for different purposes: a dressing room where guests undressed, rooms for exercise, several rooms with different temperatures, rooms for rest.
Nega and luxury of the East
An Indian bathhouse is peculiar, which is more than 35 centuries old. It is believed that it "balances mind and body." The Indians still use unique cleansing compounds - ubtan, made from nuts, flour and oil with the addition of a variety of spices. The paste replaces soap, cleaning and nourishing the skin. The bathing process in the country is inextricably linked with oil massage, adults do it weekly, and children under three years old are massaged every day.
Complex procedures include several stages:
• lashli - washing feet with essential oils and milk serum;
• udvartana - the body is rubbed with sesame oil, herbal powder is rubbed;
• swedana - washing the body.
An Indian bath requires a wooden box with a head hole. Inside the box is lined with separately heated stones. Special containers of the box are filled with aromatic herbs and plants. A partition is installed above them, through which steam enters the steam room. The duration of the process is no more than 20 minutes.
Turkish hammams are luxurious and comfortable. In their center there is usually a large hall, the room is decorated with marble slabs with intricate oriental patterns. In the middle there is an elevation, along the perimeter there are water taps, benches, bowls with buckets. Hot air is supplied from below under the marble floor and podium (elevation).
It differs in temperature regime - this is the coldest (60 ° C) bath, but with high humidity - up to 100%. There may be people in it who cannot stand high heat or have contraindications for high temperatures.
The classic hammam has several rooms with different temperatures, which gradually rise. The visitor goes through them all in turn. An obligatory procedure is a foam massage, which is made by professional bath attendants, who are in every institution, with a kesse mitten. After the massage, a person forgets about pain in joints and muscles, colds and some other health problems.
Sacred place
The Russian bath is not only a place for taking hygiene procedures. This is an important room for the Slavs, where rituals of cleansing brides, fortune-telling were held, women gave birth and washed the bodies of the dead.
They were built, if possible, near water bodies, so that it is easier to fill large containers with water and it was possible to plunge into a lake or river after hot steam. The classic bathhouse in Russia was equipped with a stove-stove, which was heated with birch wood.
After washing - traditional tea drinking from a samovar, tea was brewed with medicinal plants and berries. On the bath day in Russia they did not work, they rested from righteous labors in soul and body.
Interesting! The word “hygiene comes from the name of Hygea, the daughter of the ancient Greek god-healer Asclepius, the goddess of purity and health.
Unusual traditions
Some peoples have washing customs that seem a little strange to us.
In Japan, the furako bathtub is popular, it is a large barrel with benches on the sides. It is filled with water, most often taken from hot thermal springs. The water was not changed after each person, so before diving it was necessary to wash with soap and a washcloth. In a furako, if it is private, the whole family was placed at the same time, if it was public, people who were completely strangers to each other could be in the same barrel.
In Germany, baths are usually divided into parts, in one there are swimming pools and attractions, in the second - saunas and steam rooms. In the bathhouse, Germans must come undressed, swimwear is allowed only in the pool.
If a person is shy, he can cover himself with a towel, but they will rather look at him, rather than completely naked. The whole family often goes to wash - young children, teenagers, their parents and other relatives - you will not go against traditions.
In Finland, men and women also wash together, but only in private baths, saunas, public ones are separated. Unlike hammam, the air in them is dry and very hot, up to 100 ° C. In the sauna, Finns often not only relax, but also work - they sign contracts, conclude agreements, negotiate. This also applies to the highest officials of the state. They say that Soviet leader Khrushchev had to bathe with Honecker (President of Finland) for 5 hours in 1960, until an important document was signed.
A foam bath appeared in the Czech Republic about ten years ago. Beer is mixed with mineral water in a 1: 1 ratio, the mixture is heated to a temperature of 37 ° C. They take it within 15 minutes, rinse after a while - the beneficial substances must penetrate the pores.
Sauna exotic
The hygienic procedure in Tibet can be called exotic: they dig a hole less than one meter deep and wide. Firewood and animal bones are burned in it. A new portion of wood and bones is added to the resulting ash and burned again.
Juniper paws are laid on the burnt coals and covered with skins. The man sat in a hot pit and stayed there for as long as he could withstand. After sweating well, he got out of the pit and rested in the warmth for at least two hours. Then his skin was rubbed with healing ointments.
In Africa, when there is a shortage of water, dry “red” wash is used. They take henna powder and rub it, the human skin becomes bright in color. Henna is a natural antiseptic, the inhabitants of Africa disinfect the skin with it, moreover, the product has a pleasant smell.
Chukotka has little fuel to heat large quantities of water. In ancient times, a method of washing was invented, which was called "greasy". Local residents rubbed the body with the fat of a seal and, making a fire in the chum, danced around it. The body exuded sweat, which was removed with special scrapers, rubbed again, and again actively moved. The process was repeated several times until people became, in their opinion, clean. Now the method of such "washing" is not used.
Whatever the traditions, the bath should be useful. The main thing is to use it correctly, observe safety measures and remember about contraindications. And then a person will find harmony in body and spirit.