Out and about in their birthday suits.

A cold climate does not inspire nudity, although an interest does exist in Finland, too.

JUHA JONSSON, who has just begun his summer holiday, intends to spend the next three weeks wearing as little as possible, or preferably without a single stitch on at all. He is a naturist. “To a naturist, nudity is a way of life, not a hobby. Nudity is completely natural to me. It’s relaxing and makes me feel good.”

One would imagine that naturism would appeal to sauna-loving Finns, but the number of registered naturists in Finland is in fact rather low. In Sweden, for example, there are ten times as many naturists than in Finland, and the number in Germany is greater still. “Our cold climate doesn’t really inspire nudity. The nudist season in Spain lasts from March to around October–November, whereas in Finland 3–4 months would be the absolute maximum,” revealed Jonsson, chairman of the Naturist Union of Finland. In his opinion, the best weather for being naked outdoors is summery, rain-free weather with temperatures around +20C.

Country cottage naturism

Activities organised by the Naturist Union are open to all. Looking at the number of participants, the phenomenon must be of at least some interest to Finns. Members of the Union constituted only a quarter of the 82 participants in the Nude Run of Finland (Nakukymppi), a ten kilometre running or walking event organised in June in Padasjoki. A third of those who signed up to the Naturist Days in July and August comes from outside of the Naturist Union. Juha Jonsson can’t estimate the exact number of Finnish naturists, but believes that the number in Finland is in the region of several thousands. “Naturism or nudity at the summer cottage in one’s own comfort zone is somewhat widespread, but it’s not very common for people to think of themselves as naturists. Not many of the societies’ members want to make their activity public, either.” In Finland, there are only a handful of designated spots for nudity. “An offi cial report stated that the nudist beach at Turku was abolished on the grounds that it was needed for other recreational activities.” An offi cial at the City of Turku let slip that the real reason behind the abolishment was because the naturists were causing the reputation of the area to go down.”

Heini Strand
Timo Seppäläinen