Spanish Siesta

Is a siesta also something for us?

Whoever goes to Spain for the first time is automatically confronted with it. Most shops are closed between 2 pm and 5 pm, just after lunch. Maybe it takes some getting used to. It is very normal for Spaniards. They then have their siesta. Where does this tradition come from? What can we learn from it and would it also be something for us?

Not a uniquely Spanish tradition

The name siesta is probably derived from the Roman term sexta hora, the sixth hour, measured from sunrise. At that moment the sun is highest in the sky and the hottest hours begin. Especially in Spain it is customary to retire after lunch and take an afternoon nap. This custom also exists in nearby Portugal, but to a much lesser extent. The Spanish also exported their custom to South and Central America, where many of their old colonies were. There are also people who suspect that taking a siesta was taken over from the Moors, who controlled large parts of Spain until 1492. The Quran also mentions the custom of taking a rest in the heat of the day and the Romans also knew this custom.

Advantages and disadvantages of a siesta

Here in the North, we are used to going to work early, working concentrated for many hours and often not taking enough time for lunch or relaxation. We hurry home after work, to arrive late and need the rest of the evening to relax. Many find that they automatically feel sleepy after an afternoon lunch. Somewhere also logical. Your body needs a lot of energy to digest your midday lunch and can do this better when you are at rest. It is therefore not unwise to take a moment of rest after lunch. Moreover, in a hot climate it is not wise to work hard during the hottest hours. An afternoon nap is certainly not unwise. There are also disadvantages to the Spanish siesta. A lot of time is wasted traveling back and forth home for a short afternoon nap. This leaves less time in the evening for a pleasant family life.

How do you keep a healthy siesta?

Using the time for an afternoon nap for other things will make you more tired at night. If you’re taking an afternoon nap, do so with curtains or shutters closed and don’t sleep really deep for more than half an hour. Research has shown that a short afternoon nap is invigorating and activating. If you sleep longer, your body enters REM sleep and when you wake up from it, it takes longer to become truly alert and active. Perhaps the Netherlands and Belgium will switch to siesta en masse in a few years’ time. Because now that global warming is a fact, we will also increasingly have to deal with long and hot summers. The Spanish have had an answer to that for centuries.

Siesta in your own holiday villa?

Relax from the busy life and take a nice afternoon nap under the parasol in a lounge chair by the pool of your own luxury holiday villa. It is possible with Moraira Holiday Homes! We have several large and smaller villas with private pool in Moraira. Do you want a siesta in pure luxury? That is also possible at Moraira Holiday Homes. We have a few ultra luxury holiday villas in Moraira such as Villa Andrago, Villa La Serena, Villa Bahia del Portet and Villa Annamar. You will lack nothing in these beautiful holiday homes. Bring on the siesta …

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Frequently Asked Questions about Spanish Siësta

What is a Siesta?
As soon as you arrive in Spain, you will immediately notice one thing; almost everything is closed in the afternoon. Between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM it is siesta time for the Spanish. Most Spanish people still adhere to this tradition that probably originated in the time of the Romans.

Is a siesta healthy?
Research has shown that a short afternoon nap is refreshing and activating. If you sleep longer, your body enters REM sleep and when you wake up from it, it takes longer to become really alert and active.