A Brief History of the Spanish Siesta
People all across the world have been taking naps for centuries. There are dozens of health benefits that come along with napping, which is why everyone from John F. Kennedy to Albert Einstein have embraced naps over the years.
But no other group of people takes their naps quite as seriously as those living in Spain. The siesta - which means "a midday or afternoon rest or nap" - has become a big part of Spanish culture. Many businesses in Barcelona and other parts of the country still shut down every day so that siestas can take place.
If you're planning a trip to Spain, you should prepare yourself for plenty of siestas. You should also learn more about where Spanish siestas originated from.
Here is a brief history of the Spanish siesta.
The Origin of the Word "Siesta"
Although Spain is widely credited with popularizing the term "siesta," the idea of taking siestas seems to have roots in Islamic Law. Siesta rests are specifically mentioned in the Koran.
But it's worth mentioning that there is a strong Spanish connection to siestas. The word siesta is actually a Spanish word. It comes from the Latin word "hora sexto," which means "the sixth hour."
Many people believe "the sixth hour" is a reference to noontime since noon is situated about six hours after dawn. That's why siesta is now defined as "a midday or afternoon nap or rest."
A Theory about Why Spain First Embraced Siestas
There are several different theories about why siestas have become so popular in Spain over the years. They range from practical theories to theories that are relatively dark in nature.
One of the dark theories suggests that people in Spain started taking siestas back in the 1930s at the height of the Spanish Civil War. According to the theory, siestas were a necessity because of the economic conditions at the time.
During the Spanish Civil War, most of those living in Spain were forced to deal with poverty. To make ends meet, they had to work two or three jobs at a time in order to generate enough income to support their families.
Siestas provided people with a break from their work. Many of them would work all morning long, take siestas, and then get back to work in the afternoon before working a night shift as well.
The idea is that most people living back then would be working non-stop. Siestas gave them a chance to recover so that they could continue working as hard as they possibly could to bring in money and put food on their tables.
Another Spanish Siestas Theory That Makes Sense
Although many people believe that the Spanish Civil War may have been a jumping off point for siestas, it's not the only theory that exists. There's a much more common and practical one that also makes all the sense in the world.
According to that theory, those in Spain didn't embrace siestas because they were working too many jobs. Instead, they did it because of the hot working conditions that many of them were subjected to day in and day out.
The Spanish siestas likely started after Spanish field workers started taking breaks around the middle of the day to come in out of the sun. During their siestas, they would escape the heat at the hottest time of the day and give themselves time to eat lunch and hang out with their families away from the elements.
Before returning to the fields, the workers would also take a short nap and then get right back to work later in the afternoon. By that time, the temperatures would have come down and provided them with better working conditions.
The thought is that many other people in Spain outside of just the field workers saw the value in taking this approach and embraced siestas. It wasn't long before most people were enjoying a break from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives in the middle of every workday.
Other Countries That Have Embraced Siestas
Siestas may have been born in Spain. But ever since their rise in popularity, they've found a home in many other countries as well.
There are lots of countries with hot climates that have fully embraced siestas over the years.
For example, you'll find workers in places like the Philippines and areas like Northern Africa and parts of the Middle East taking siestas. Other countries that aren't always as hot, such as Argentina and Chile, have also found ways to use siestas to bring families and friends closer every day.
It appears as though siestas are here to stay for many countries that have welcomed them with open arms.
The Benefits That Come along with Spanish Siestas
People living in Spain and other parts of the world love siestas for a number of reasons. There are so many benefits that come along with taking a brief nap in the middle of the day.
Some of those benefits include:
- Increased energy
- More productivity
- Decreased stress
- Improved communication skills
- An uptick in overall happiness
While some countries have shut down the idea of workers taking regular siestas, there's no denying that naps can do a lot of good. So it wouldn't be a surprise to see Spanish siestas work their way into new countries in the coming years and decades.
Enjoy a Siesta during Your Next Trip to Spain
Do you want to see what Spanish siestas are all about? You can see how siestas impact the local culture or experience a siesta for yourself during a trip to Barcelona.
You don't want to spend too much time sleeping while you're in Barcelona since there's so much to see and do. But siestas are very important in Spain, and you'll get to see why when you're in town.
Check out our blog to learn more about why a trip to Barcelona would be a great idea.