Fiesta then Siesta – Now That’s the Life!
26th August 2011
You gotta love a country that makes napping a national birthright. Where a big, heavy lunch is not only encouraged, but rewarded with an officially sanctioned snooze session to sleep off the excess! From 2pm to 5pm, most of Spain retreats for a power nap, closing up schools, businesses and shops and emptying the streets to take advantage of one of the oldest of Spanish traditions – la siesta.
Siesta literally translates as a short nap of 15 to 30 minutes, but history and custom has seen that catnap stretch out to a three hour slumber. Originally devised during the Spanish civil war, the siesta allowed the Spaniards to escape the scorching midday heat, and to provide the impoverished locals who often worked multiple jobs, with the opportunity to eat a late lunch, rest up and then return to work later in the evening.
In more modern times, the siesta is used as a welcome break in a busy day – a time for families and friends to get together, enjoy a meal, and grab a little shut-eye. It is a custom that provides a fascinating insight into the Spanish psyche and the importance they place on leisure-time, food and of course family. It also goes a long way in explaining their late-night party people reputation!
It seems snoozing is not losing – in fact, the siesta has proved to be a popular notion that has spread its drowsy wings far across the globe, to the more sweltering cities in South America, the Philippines, the Middle East and North Africa.
Now if only it would catch on in Australia...San Churro lovers could get their fill of chocolate treats, and hanker down for a little beauty sleep. Well fed and well slept – seems like a great recipe for a blissful life!
