A student's dream: Spanish Siesta!

When students speak of their new lives in Spain, they almost invariably mention the joys of the afternoon siesta. Thought of as a luxurious Spanish custom, the siesta is actually probably rooted much more in biology and environment. Having eaten a heavy Spanish lunch with three courses, while the sun’s strongest rays are beating down, the body’s systems naturally slow down. Even animals crawl into their cubbies for an afternoon slumber.

With roots from the Latin, “hora sexta” (sixth hour), siesta refers to that time of day, somewhere between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm when there is a lapse in activity, and one has a moment to rest.

According to the Royal Spanish Academy’s Dictionary, the siesta is defined as:
1. A nap taken after eating (lunch).
2. Time destined for sleeping or resting after eating
3. The hottest moment of the afternoon

From a health standpoint, a brief siesta (recommended 20 – 30 minutes) is very beneficial, as it alleviates stress, promotes circulation, improves memory, and reinforces activity in the parts of the brain associated with learning.

Winston Churchill learned how to take a good siesta while in Cuba, and practiced it religiously, as did Albert Einstein and the Spanish author Camilo José Cela.

Spanish sayings about the siesta:
“Comida sin siesta, campana sin badajo”
“En la siesta y en el juego, se conoce al caballero”
“La que no tiene marido en siesta, sola se acuesta”