THE SWEAT HOUSE IN NATIVE CALIFORNIA

VIRTUALLY EVERY VILLAGE IN NATIVE CALIFORNIA HAD AT LEAST ONE SWEAT HOUSE. IN THE POMO SOCIETIES THEY WERE MADE SEMI-SUBTERRANEAN AND HAD LARGE WILLOW POLES AS POSTS. THEY WERE COVERED WITH TULES AND GRASS THATCHING. THESE WERE LARGELY USED BY THE MEN FOR SWEATING AND MAKING CAMARADERIE AS WELL AS HAVING ENJOYABLE EVENTS. THE WOMEN SERVED THE MEN FOOD INSIDE THE SWEAT LODGES AND SOMETIMES WERE ALLOWED TO ENTER IT. GUESTS FROM OTHER VILLAGES WERE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE SWEAT LODGE.

THERE WAS A FIRE BUILT IN THE CENTER AND THE LODGE HAD A SMOKE HOLE IN THE ROOF. THE YUROK BUILT THEIR SWEAT LODGES OUT OF REDWOOD PLANKS AND CAN STILL BE SEEN AT PRAIRIE CREEK REDWOODS STATE PARK. THE MEN WOULD SING SONGS INSIDE THE SWEAT LODGES. MANY MEN WOULD JUMP INTO THE COOL RIVERS AFTER SWEATING AND GO BACK AND FORTH.

AFTER THIS THE MEN WOULD GATHER IN THEIR HOUSES OR THE MAIN LODGE AND TALK AND LAUGH UNTIL THE WOMEN FINISHED COOKING THEIR DINNER.