Siesta
A midday nap tradition with ancient Roman and global roots.
A midday nap, often called by its Spanish name siesta, is a short rest taken in the early afternoon, typically after the midday meal. The practice has deep historical roots, originating in Roman times along the Mediterranean coastline, and remains a widespread tradition in many warm-weather regions, including Southern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.
- etymology
- From Latin [hora] sexta ('sixth hour', counting from dawn, hence 'midday rest')
- roman_term
- merīdiātiō (from merīdiēs 'midday')
- spanish_name
- siesta
- chinese_name
- 午睡 (wǔshuì)
- arabic_name
- قيلولة (qailulah)
- greek_name
- Μεσημβρινός ύπνος ('afternoon sleep')
Lore & Background
The custom of taking a midday nap evolved in Roman times along the Mediterranean coastline, as Roman nobles serving in that area found it difficult to handle the heat at noon. Classical authors such as Catullus, Caesar, Cicero, and Suetonius mention the practice. Later, Sidonius wrote of Theodoric II, King of the Goths, that 'the siesta after dinner is always slight, and sometimes intermitted.' Einhard's Life of Charlemagne describes the emperor's summertime midday naps: 'In summer, after his midday meal, he would eat some fruit and take another drink; then he would remove his shoes and undress completely, just as he did at night, and rest for two or three hours.'
Reader's Guide
The siesta has been misunderstood by Northern Europeans and North Americans, who traditionally work from 9 am to 5 pm, as if Spaniards did not work after the lunch break. In modern Spain and Portugal, the midday nap during the working week is being gradually abandoned among the adult working population. Longtime considered a sign of 'laziness' in the English-speaking world, the midday nap is currently being revitalised in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries, with the term 'power nap,' coined by Cornell University social psychologist James Maas.
Did You Know?
- The Spanish word siesta derives from the Latin phrase [hora] sexta, meaning 'sixth hour' counting from dawn.
- In China, surveys indicate that about two-thirds of the population habitually takes afternoon naps, with an average duration of approximately 30 minutes.
- In Muslim countries, the Qailulah is a brief nap between the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, considered Mustahabb (encouraged) and recommended by the prophet Mohammed.
- In the 19th-century American South, midday naps were common but very probably limited to the élite social class, such as slave owners.
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