Originally sauna was not only meant for bathing because of its purity it was also used for giving a birth and taking care of sick people. It has also been used to make smoked meat and used as shelter until the farmhouse was build but the main purpose was for relaxing.
In Finnish rural culture sauna was used for taking care of births and newborns first bathing/washing also it had a bit darker side dead bodies were washed here. Years ago saunas were the best option for wash because of the long winters when there was no hot water.
Sauna have had these supernatural believes in Finnish culture like it was believed that "saunatonttu" sauna elf is living in the sauna so it was where no curse words were allowed. Also it was told that elves were living in sauna especially fire people who are able to expel illnesses.
Because of these believes holiday saunas weren't just for relaxing but also to purify your body.
Thou nowadays sauna is mostly used when drinking with friends or inviting friends or family members to your house. In Finland there is around 2 million saunas and in country thats population is around 5,2 million.
Even in war sauna was one of the important buildings
beside hospital and etc. Where there was
Finnish soldiers fortification there was also sauna.
So they made high sacrifices just to enjoy sauna even though they were in danger to get assaulted when they were naked and without guns.
