Is Spain the only country with a siesta?

Is Spain the only country with a siesta?

Siestas are historically common throughout the Mediterranean and southern Europe, the Middle East, mainland China, and the Indian subcontinent. The siesta is a tradition in Spain and, through Spanish influence, most of Latin America.

Where is siesta still practiced in Spain?

In the small town of Ador, near Valencia, the siesta is sacred. So sacred, in fact, that in 2015 its mayor enshrined its citizens’ right to the afternoon nap in law. Everything in the town closes between 2pm and 5pm, while all noise must be kept to a minimum.

Why is siesta a popular tradition in Spain?

Spain is a hot country, especially mid-afternoon, and the traditional reason for the siesta is for the workers in the fields to shelter from the heat. They would then feel refreshed after their sleep and would work until quite late in the evening, longer than they would have been able to without the siesta.

What are siestas in Spain?

Siestas are known as a time when Spain shuts down to let everyone go home and nap in the middle of the day. This staple of Spanish life is famous worldwide, but you may be surprised to know that many other countries besides partake in this practice, and siestas aren’t just for sleeping.

How common is siesta in Spain?

According to a 2017 survey, roughly 58 percent of Spaniards don’t nap at all, compared to 18 percent who say they take naps at least four or more days out of the week. Another 16 percent naps anywhere from one to three days out of the week, and 8 percent even less frequently than that.

What is a siesta in Spanish culture?

What is a siesta and where did it come from?

From its Roman origins, the siesta became a cross cultural phenomenon, but it was Spain’s peculiar historical working hours that gave Spaniards, perhaps more so than most, the opportunity to fit the infamous nap into their day.

Are siestas still popular in Spain?

While people in some professions can still find time for forty winks midday, modern city jobs in Spain mean the siesta has largely been abandoned (Credit: Getty Images)

Are the days numbered for Spain’s most enduring stereotypes?

But while Ador is embracing the tradition of siesta , elsewhere in Spain it seems the days may be numbered for one of the country’s most enduring stereotypes. The siesta is now as alien to most Spaniards as it is to the foreigners who package it into their image of Spain.

Why is presentism so prevalent in Spain?

“It is particularly prevalent in Spain due to the old mentality in traditional companies of more hours equals more work, and long working hours because of the long lunch break in many companies. “Presentismomay seem good in the short term but it is tremendously pervasive in the long term.