A midday nap is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after the midday meal. It is frequently called with its Spanish name siesta (pronounced [ˈsjesta]). According to some historians, the midday nap was common in the American south, although only reserved to masters. It is still a widespread tradition in many countries, particularly those in warm-weather zones: the Mediterranean, Southern Europe (it. pisolino pomeridiano "little afternoon nap", gr. μεσημβρινός ύπνος "afternoon sleep"), South and Southeast Asia and mainland China (午睡, wǔshuì); in the Middle East and more generally in Muslim countries, the قيلولة (qailulah) is recommended by the prophet Mohammed. Through Spanish influence, midday naps are also common in most of Latin America and the Philippines. English-language media often conflates the midday nap with the two to three hour lunch break that is characteristic of Spanish and Portuguese working hours. Longtime considered a sign of "laziness" in the English-speaking world, the midday nap is currently being revitalised in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries, with the term power nap. This comes with a workplace cultural shift that emphasises the necessity of sleep and rest.
Etymology
The Spanish word siesta is originally derived from the Latin phrase [hora] sexta ('sixth [hour]', counting from dawn, hence "midday rest"), which puts it around noon time. The latin language itself used the word merīdiātiō which made reference to merīdiēs "midday". This word remains in French méridienne.
History
The custom of taking a midday nap or merīdiātiō at the sixth hour evolved in Roman times along the Mediterranean coastline. As Roman nobles serving in that area found it difficult to handle the heat at noon time, they used to take this nap. The custom is mentioned among others by classical authors such as Catullus, Caesar,, Cicero, Suetonius, It is also mentioned later in the letters of Sidonius regarding the habits of Theodoric II, King of the Goths (5th century): "The siesta [merīdiātiō] after dinner is always slight, and sometimes intermitted". Einhard's Life of Charlemagne describes the emperor's summertime midday naps: "In summer, after his midday meal, he would eat some fruit and take another drink; then he would remove his shoes and undress completely, just as he did at night, and rest for two or three hours."
In different countries
North America
Some historians point out that midday naps were a common habit in 19th century American South. However, this was very probably limited to the élite social class, such as slave owners, while slaves were not allowed to rest. This custom is also depicted in the book and the film Gone with the Wind (1939):
Scarlett - Why do I have to take a nap? I'm not tired. Mammy - Well-brought-up young ladies take naps at parties. And it's high time you started behavin' and actin' like you was Miss Ellen's daughter. Scarlett - When we were at Saratoga I didn't notice any Yankee girls taking naps. Mammy - No, and you ain't gonna see no Yankee girls at the ball tonight neither.
South America In South America, the siesta time is common also in colder regions such as Patagonia.
Europe
Spain and Portugal
As for the origins of the practice in Spain and Portugal, the scorching summer heat predominant mostly in the South is thought to have motivated those doing agrarian work to take a break to avoid the hottest part of the day and be able to work longer hours when it is cooler. In cities, the economic situation in Spain and Portugal during the post-Spanish Civil War years was dismal. At that time, a long midday break—with or without a siesta—was necessary for those commuting between the part-time jobs, which were common in the sputtering economy. This situation was soon followed by the advent of a modern economy and urbanization.
Research shows that the practice of siesta has been misunderstood by Northern Europeans and North Americans, who traditionally work from 9 am to 5 pm, as if Spaniards did not work after the lunch break. However, in Spain, afternoon working hours typically last from 5 pm until 8pm or 9pm, and globally, the average Spaniard works 300 hours a year more than the average German and about 200 hours more than the average Dutch In any case, in modern Spain and Portugal, the midday nap during the working week is being gradually abandoned among the adult working population. According to a 2009 survey, 16.2 percent of the population polled claimed to take a nap "daily", whereas 22 percent did so "sometimes", 3.2 percent "weekends only" and the remainder, 58.6 percent, "never". The share of those who claimed to have a nap daily had diminished by 7 percent compared to a previous poll in 1998. Nearly three out of four siesta-takers claimed to take siestas on the sofa rather than the bed. The habit is more likely among the elderly or during summer holidays, in order to avoid the high temperatures of the day and extend social life until the cooler late evenings and nights.
Italy The midday nap is called with different names meaning little rest (riposino) or little sleep of the afternoon (sonnellino or pisolino pomeridiano). The regional name pennichella is also common The Spanish loanword siesta is less used . In Southern Italy, the lunch break is sometimes called controra (from contro "counter" + ora "hour") .
France The siesta or méridienne was common in France until the 19th century. Paintings by Edouard Manet and Vincent van Gogh depict people from different social classes having a siesta. The fainting couch is a sort of chaise longue called méridienne in French.
Balkans In Dalmatia (coastal Croatia), the traditional afternoon nap is known as pižolot (from Venetian pixolotto). Communist Yugoslavia set office working hours to 7am to 2pm to avoid siestas.
Greece
The midday nap is called Μεσημβρινός ύπνος "afternoon sleep". The lunch break usually spans from 1 pm to 5 pm or 6pm, while afternoon working hours go to 9 pm. This means that a typical working day globally counts 8 hours, just like a 9-to-5 shift.
Russia
Midday naps used to be the custom in Russia, with Adam Olearius stating such was "the custom of the Countrey, where sleep is as necessary after Dinner as in the Night". One source of hostility toward False Dmitriy I was that he did not "...indulge in the siesta."
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