Siesta
A midday nap tradition with ancient Roman and global roots.
A midday nap, commonly known by its Spanish name *siesta*, is a short rest taken in the early afternoon, usually after the midday meal. The custom of taking such a nap, referred to in Latin as *merīdiātiō* (from *merīdiēs*, meaning "midday"), evolved during Roman times along the Mediterranean coastline. Roman nobles serving in that region found it difficult to endure the heat at noon and thus adopted this practice. Classical authors including Catullus, Caesar, Cicero, and Suetonius mention the custom, as does a later letter from Sidonius describing the habits of Theodoric II, King of the Goths, who took a slight siesta after dinner. Einhard’s *Life of Charlemagne* records that the emperor, during summer, would rest for two or three hours after his midday meal. The Spanish word *siesta* derives from the Latin phrase *hora sexta* ("sixth hour," counting from dawn, hence around noon). In French, the term *méridienne* persists.
The practice remains widespread in warm-weather zones, including Southern Europe (where Italian has terms such as *pisolino pomeridiano*), South and Southeast Asia, mainland China (午睡, *wǔshuì*), and the Middle East, where the *qailulah* is recommended by the prophet Mohammed. Through Spanish influence, the siesta is common in most of Latin America and the Philippines. In the 19th-century American South, historians note that midday naps were a common habit among the elite social class, such as slave owners, while slaves were not permitted to rest—a depiction found in the book and film *Gone with the Wind*. In modern Spain and Portugal, the practice is gradually being abandoned among the adult working population; a 2009 survey found that 16.2 percent of respondents napped daily, while 58.6 percent never did. The habit is more common among the elderly or during summer holidays. English-language media often conflates the siesta with the two-to-three-hour lunch break typical of Spanish and Portuguese working hours, but Spaniards typically work afternoon hours from 5 p.m. until 8 or 9 p.m.
- etymology
- From Latin [hora] sexta ('sixth hour', counting from dawn, hence 'midday rest')
- roman_term
- merīdiātiō (from merīdiēs 'midday')
- spanish_name
- siesta
- chinese_name
- 午睡 (wǔshuì)
- arabic_name
- قيلولة (qailulah)
- greek_name
- Μεσημβρινός ύπνος ('afternoon sleep')
Lore & Background
The custom of taking a midday nap evolved in Roman times along the Mediterranean coastline, as Roman nobles serving in that area found it difficult to handle the heat at noon. Classical authors such as Catullus, Caesar, Cicero, and Suetonius mention the practice. Later, Sidonius wrote of Theodoric II, King of the Goths, that 'the siesta 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.'
Reader's Guide
The siesta, a short afternoon nap often taken after the midday meal, has deep historical roots. The custom of resting at the sixth hour, known in Latin as *merīdiātiō*, evolved along the Mediterranean coastline during Roman times, as nobles found it difficult to handle the noon heat. Classical authors such as Catullus, Caesar, Cicero, and Suetonius mentioned the practice. Later, the 5th-century King of the Goths, Theodoric II, was noted for taking a slight siesta after dinner, while Charlemagne would undress and rest for two to three hours in summer. The Spanish word itself derives from the Latin *sexta hora* (sixth hour), meaning midday. In the 19th-century American South, historical research suggests the midday nap was common but reserved for the elite, such as slave owners, while slaves were not permitted to rest—a dynamic depicted in *Gone with the Wind*. In Spain and Portugal, the practice was motivated by scorching summer heat for agrarian workers and later by economic necessity after the Spanish Civil War, when long midday breaks allowed for commuting between part-time jobs. Today, the habit is being gradually abandoned among working adults in Spain and Portugal; a survey found that over half of respondents never take a siesta, while daily nappers were more likely to be elderly or taking breaks during summer holidays. Despite being long considered a sign of laziness in the English-speaking world, the midday nap is now being revitalized in the United States and the United Kingdom under the term "power nap," reflecting a workplace cultural shift that emphasizes the necessity of sleep and rest.
Did You Know?
- The Spanish word siesta derives from the Latin phrase [hora] sexta, meaning 'sixth hour' counting from dawn.
- In China, surveys indicate that about two-thirds of the population habitually takes afternoon naps, with an average duration of approximately 30 minutes.
- In Muslim countries, the Qailulah is a brief nap between the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, considered Mustahabb (encouraged) and recommended by the prophet Mohammed.
- In the 19th-century American South, midday naps were common but very probably limited to the élite social class, such as slave owners.
More in Animal Biology And Behavior 1-21
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record