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A Short History of Spas
12/29/2014
Spas have been around since ancient times. Oddly enough, however, no one is quite sure where the term “spa” came from. Some people say it’s an acronym for “salus per aquae,” a Latin phrase that translates to “health through water.” Others suggest that the term comes from Spa, a small town in Belgium known for its amazing baths. It’s possible that Spa was so popular during the Roman Empire that its name became a synonym for being pampered.
No matter where the term came from, spas are known around the world for being places of rest, relaxation, and health. The first spas were towns known for having hot springs or other mineral waters where travelers would stop and rest after a long, hard journey on the road. The practice of stopping at these springs to bathe and rest has been documented in many ancient texts dating back to the Babylonians.
During the 19th century, many of the great spas of Europe became destinations for the rich. This is where the idea began that spas were treatments only for the rich. It was a luxury to be able to afford to go to one of these spas, especially since travel during that time was much more involved then it is now. What takes only a few hours today would have taken several days then, so visiting a spa required much more planning and cost much more.
Today, a spa may not even have a hot springs. In fact, in America, the word spa is more associated with massages and facial treatments than it is with bathing, but the central idea behind the spa is still the same: it’s a place where people go to rest and relax. Anyone who goes to a spa knows they’re going to be able to refresh themselves from a long journey, even if that journey isn’t necessarily a physical one.
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