Even if you have never been to Spain, you have probably heard about their national custom called siesta. It is a time period in the afternoon when people stop working and take a rest, after which they get back to work.
In the past, the reason for the siesta was for the field-workers to get away from the sun and get some rest before they go on working. This way they were more efficient and able to remain working until the evening. Even today, siesta enables people to stay up late, which is why Spaniards are known for their rich night-life.
Traditionally, people would take a nap during the siesta, but in the modern fast-paced world they have other rituals during these hours. First of all, they use it to have lunch, because lunch in Spain is more of a ritual than just having a quick bite. They like eating with their families, and the lunch can sometimes last as long as two hours. After lunch, they like to use the remaining free time to get some rest, and if they can squeeze in the nap, even better.
Since most people nowadays use siesta to have lunch, the time for closing the shops and the time for closing the restaurants is different. The shops are usually closed from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m., and restaurants, bars and cafes close mostly around 4 p.m. until 8 or 9 p.m.
Since the laws in Spain are changing, siesta slowly starts fading away from the lives of Spaniards, especially in big cities. But old habits die hard, so if you plan a shopping in a town or city in Spain – you better plan it before 2 or after 5 p.m.
