RIGA, Latvia—In a groundbreaking move celebrated by sauna enthusiasts and spontaneous spirit proponents alike, the Latvian Parliament has passed legislation officially recognizing 'Unexpected Sauna Seclusion Day' as a national holiday. The announcement, made with much fanfare, promises to add a unique twist to the nation's cultural calendar.

The initiative, proposed by the newly formed Ministry of Serendipitous Leisure, mandates that on the first Friday of every November, all citizens must embrace the unpredictability of life by participating in an unplanned sauna session. The idea, according to ministry officials, is to foster resilience against the often harsh Baltic climate and promote impromptu stress relief.

Minister of Serendipitous Leisure, Elga Kalniņa, shared her excitement during a press conference on Thursday. 'This is about harnessing the unexpected joy of sweating out life's worries randomly,' she explained. 'Our research indicates that sudden exposure to high temperatures and camaraderie in a steamy, wooden box can lead to the kind of enlightenment usually reserved for mountaintop monasteries.'

The holiday will feature 'Surprise Sauna Squads' roving major cities, equipped with mobile sauna facilities, ready to swarm unsuspecting individuals with spontaneous invitations to detach from their daily routines. 'It's a day when having no plan is the best plan,' Kalniņa quipped.

Critics, however, argue that the initiative could catch too many by surprise, potentially infringing on personal freedoms. 'What if I'm not mentally prepared for sauna today?' pondered Rūdolfs Nevēža, a pragmatic software engineer from Riga. 'We need to balance tradition with the calming predictability of our everyday lives.'

Supporters insist that the holiday encourages citizens to step outside their comfort zones. 'Nothing promotes national unity like a large-scale, unexpected shared experience,' said Jānis Ozoliņš, head of the National Sauna Appreciation Society. 'Plus, the added humidity helps cut down on air pollution, creating a breath of fresh air for our metropolis.'

To assist with the transition, the government will be issuing 'Sauna Starter Packs' free of charge. Each kit includes an essential oil-infused towel, a pair of traditional wooden slippers, and detailed instructions on how to engage in small talk with strangers in a steam-filled setting—an invaluable skill seldom practiced in Latvia's typically reserved culture.

According to initial projections, the new holiday will stimulate the local economy through increased sales of sauna accessories and the unexpected boost in cucumber and dill-flavored water consumption. 'We're predicting a 350% increase in the market for eucalyptus and birch broom sales leading up to November 3rd,' reported Mareks Akmentiņš, an analyst from the Market Research Institute of Riga.

As Latvia prepares for its inaugural celebration, the question on everyone's steamed lips remains: will 'Unexpected Sauna Seclusion Day' become as deeply ingrained in the Latvian spirit as potato pancakes or singing festivals? Only time—and perhaps a bit of sweat—will tell.