This period is used for sleep, as well as leisure, mid-day meals, or other activities. The 'siesta' can refer to the nap itself, or more generally to a period of the day, generally between 2–5 p.m. Such a period of sleep is a common tradition in some countries, particularly those in warm-weather zones.

( The hammock, Gustave Courbet (1844)) People taking a siesta in a haystack, Lendava, Yugoslavia, 1957Ī siesta (from Spanish, pronounced and meaning 'nap') is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after the midday meal. For other uses, see Siesta (disambiguation).Ī painting of a young woman taking a siesta.