Siesta is a traditional afternoon break in Spain and some other hot countries. The Spaniards sacredly honor this tradition and consider it an integral part of their lives. For tourists, siesta turns into a real nightmare, as the doors of all shops, museums and entertainment centers close at lunchtime.
Siesta for Spaniards and residents of other hot countries is not a luxury, but a norm of life. During the lunch break, which lasts three hours, the Spaniards sit comfortably at tables in local cafes and eat a hearty lunch, and then they are given a short nap. Some Spaniards go home for a siesta, to a nearby park, to a playground with children, or just relax at work.
What is siesta
The word "siesta" comes from the Latin phrase "hora sexta", which means "the sixth hour". For the Romans, the day began at dawn, so the sixth hour corresponded to lunchtime. Siesta has its roots in the distant 17th century. Historians believe that it was then that the kings decided to make daytime rest during hot hours a tradition.
The shortest siesta lasts from 5 to 20 minutes. It increases pep and restores the energy spent in the morning. A regular siesta lasting from 20 to 50 minutes, in addition to the beneficial properties of a mini-siesta, clears the brain of unnecessary information, strengthens long-term and muscle memory. The longest siesta is the sloth siesta, it lasts 50 to 90 minutes. This siesta is good for a young, growing body.
Positive sides of siesta
Scientists say that approximately 8 hours after waking up in the morning, a person experiences an afternoon breakdown. If, in addition, a person has taken a hearty meal, a natural outflow of blood from the nervous system to the digestive system occurs in his body, which leads to drowsiness and a decrease in labor productivity. Unlike residents of other countries, who have a hearty breakfast, and only have a snack at lunch, it is customary for the Spaniards to have a snack for breakfast, and leave a hearty meal for lunch hours. Therefore, an afternoon break in Spain is very appropriate.
On the other hand, Spain is the hottest of all European countries. The thermometer here often rises above 40 degrees Celsius, and only a cool air conditioner saves from the heat. In such conditions, siesta improves blood circulation, prevents the development of depression and panic attacks, normalizes blood pressure and relieves stress. Scientists note that a short siesta improves learning processes and memory, restores working capacity and gives strength to function normally until late in the evening, despite the accumulated fatigue.
Negative sides of siesta
Numerous studies show that the first shallow phase of sleep lasting up to 30 minutes is excellent for refreshing the brain and restoring a person's working capacity. But if a person sleeps for more than 30 minutes, his body plunges into a phase of deep sleep, as a result, he wakes up broken and in a bad mood. Spaniards pay little attention to scientists 'warnings: 90% of Spaniards sleep more than 40 minutes after lunch, despite experts' calls not to do so.
Paradoxically, but true: it is because of the siesta that the Spaniards sleep about an hour less than residents of other European countries. To make up for the afternoon nap, they have to stay at work until 8 pm. Due to the late end of the day, they do not appear at home until 9 pm, eat dinner and do their daily household chores in the late evening, and go to bed long after midnight. They have very little time for hobbies and communication with loved ones. Considering that the working day for the Spaniards begins at 9 am, we can conclude that the traditional siesta deprives people of several hours of full night sleep.
