Opinion festival in saunas, where the sauna benches are the discussion stages. The goal is a nice get-together, promotion of sauna culture and development of conversation culture based on the example of sauna. Saun helps us to be better version of ourselves.
Mobile saunas are collected on the Emajõgi City Beach near the city center. Each full hour begins with a conversation that lasts 20-30 minutes. Then there’s the cooling. The conversations have three topics: tradition (rehe), green (rohe), and peace (rahu). A new start at full hour again. It is possible to continue the conversation while cooling.
The conversation style in saunas is what it should be like everywhere – friendly, avoiding confrontation, looking for common ground, inclusive. The sauna is a deep root of our culture, and nowadays bringing well-being and relaxation, pop in every age group and layer of community. The sauna is equal, there are no titles, decorations, or uniforms.
People in the sauna treat each other with respect, friendliness, and sincerity. Without smart phones the focus is on the personal contact. The truth is naked in the literal sense of the word.
From Finland, a larger group from the Oulu 2026 capital of culture will arrive at the festival, where the sauna is also part of the capital of culture program. The people of Oulu build a foldable pop-up sauna for the festival, which later moves on to other similar events. In addition, participants will come from Tampere, which holds the title of sauna capital of the world, and will organize a soothing sauna ritual at the end of both days. Mustamäe Spa sauna master Kaupo Sõrmus will also give a lesson of silence on Saturday.
Discussions start at full time and last about 30 minutes. The moderators (heat-masters) of the discussion are, among others, the “sauna minister” Rein Sikk, Ilmar Raag, who organizes frontline saunas for Ukraine, Marianne Ostrat, producer of the film “Savvusanna sõsarad”, writer Mika Keränen, Daniel Vaarik, founder of Levila, and Triinu Laan, project manager of UT World University, journalist Marti Aavik, sauna activist Marko “Pluto” Puksing, Tampere house director Sakari Neuvonen, Tampere’s oldest public sauna Rajaportt sauna heater Alexander Lembke, forest expert Liis Kuresoo, Eda Veeroja and Helen Moppel promoting the smoke sauna culture in Southeast Estonia, Oulu 2026 team Katri Tenetz, Kati Koivunen, Piia Rantala-Korhonen and Katri Kärkkäinen.
Researchers from the University of Tartu’s Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies and experienced sauna bathers Piret Ehin, Urmas Hõbepappel and Maili Vilson will bring distant and close topics to the festival. They show how to talk about politics in the sauna – exceptionally calmly, interestingly and respectfully. In the Skytte sauna on May 10, there will be a talk about China, political culture, and whether and what could be transferred from sauna culture to politics. On Saturday, May 11, the ship Signild will become a “Euro vessel” for four hours, because Estonia just celebrated 20 years as a member of the European Union.
“Naked Truth” is part of the main programme of the European Capital of Culture in Tartu 2024.
Date:
Friday, the 10th of May, at 17-21 o’clock
Saturday, the 11th of May, at 15-20 o’clock
Place:
Emajõe City Beach, Ujula street 102, Tartu city
Language:
Mostly in Estonian, some discussions also in English
There is a tent for dressing up, and drinks and food for sale next to sauna area.
Tickets from Piletilevi:
5 euros (children under 12 years for free)
Partners and supporters:
Eesti Maaturism, Oulu 2026, Oulun Rantasaunaseura, International Sauna Association (ISA), MTÜ Emajoe Lodjaselts, Operaatio Pirkanmaa, Visit Tampere/The Sauna Capital, Tarton Suomi-seura, Tartto 2024, Narvi, Metsä Group Pärnu, HUUM, Lemmik Mees, Kärg Saun, Brek, Saunum, Saunas for Ukraine, Suomen Saunaseura, Eckerö Line, A. Le Coq, Mustamäe Elamus Spa, Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies in University of Tartu/REPAIR Rejuvenating DEMOCRACY in the EU