The Spanish Siesta

It’s been a minute!

I’ve been on vacation, touring four different cities in Spain. (Almoradi, Alicante, Madrid, and Guardamar.)

One interesting thing we noticed is how the stores close in the middle of the day.

In some parts of Spain, businesses take a few hours of break in the afternoon. They actually close their stores, and you won’t be able to go in until after the break.

They call this a Siesta, which means “a midday or afternoon rest or nap.” It comes from the Latin sexta, the 6th hour after dawn. The Siesta was a traditional break for agricultural workers in Spain and Italy, usually taken at noon to avoid the intense heat of the midday sun.

Imagine going to work and then taking a nap after lunch to be refreshed and ready for the evening hours.

This made me think about how other countries prioritize rest compared to America’s “no sleep” philosophy. Spaniards are so rejuvenated after the Siesta that many stay up all night, and some restaurants do not close until midnight.

And I mean they have a time! Card tables are out, children are running around, and the city is buzzing with life. The people seem content and joyful.

Meanwhile, we are over here exhausted, overworked, and stressed out.

We can use this as a lesson and appreciate breaks more whenever we need them, not just when society says it’s okay.

Let us refill our cups as needed to ensure we have everything we need to continue.

I wish you peace, and I wish you rest!