Having lived in and/or associated with the great Upper Peninsula citizens for over five years, I have finally succumbed to the appropriate pronunciation of the word sauna. Having come from Lower Michigan, I tend to say, “saw’na.” That just doesn’t sound right, anymore. While reading an excellent cross country ski magazine, I came across an article about the glorious sauna. One of the first things this magazine did was set its readers straight about the pronunciation of the word: sow’na. How ’bout that! Merriam-Webster gives both pronunciations, while The Free Dictionary gives only the former. The Upper Peninsula, especially the Keweenaw Peninsula, has a large Finnish influence. These American citizens are often referred to as the Fins, or Finlanders. The culture is different, here, … Read entire article »