concept
Venik (bathhouse birch switch)
birch switch
also: веник
A bundle of leafy birch twigs used in the Russian bathhouse (banya) to beat the skin and stimulate circulation in the steam; both scenes' characters wield one throughout, a piece of everyday banya realia rather than an implement of punishment.
Reading notes
- At the Baths §33 a birch switch
Venik: a bundle of leafy birch twigs used to beat the skin in a Russian bathhouse (banya) to stimulate circulation in the steam -- standard banya equipment, not a weapon.