2024-08-29 10:42:03
“Finally the weekend! Fancy a quick walk? You can ring your doorbell at 3pm. Such beautiful weather!” – I’m about to close the curtains on my patio door when a message pops up on my already silent phone. It’s totally stupid to leave the house for the next two hours even though i was born and raised in germany, my birth clock is in spanish. Between 1:30 and 3:30, nothing happens to me.
It was about 30 degrees outside. In front of the bike shop, a mechanic is oiling chains, the sun beating down on his head, where hair no longer grows. People sit in front of the bakery and fan themselves, and while the water rushes into the clean buckets in the back, I slowly slip into a sweet siesta on my sofa.
What seems to be the interest of the German-Spanish author without maintenance contracts is not one. Siesta is a tradition in Spain, especially in the agricultural and construction industries. Many shops and doctors also close at midday and reopen around 5 p.m. The word “siesta” has its origins in the Latin “sexta hora” and refers to the middle of the day.
Siesta is restricted to Spanish civil servants
Siesta traditions exist in the Mediterranean region, but also in other countries such as China and Mexico: the general life more or less comes to standing for two to three hours in the afternoon. What exactly does it mean remains to be seen, but traditionally no work, celebration or visits take place during this time. Siesta has long been a myth and a reality at the same time: international companies want to communicate with their employees in Spain at any time of the day, and Spanish officials have also reduced the midday break since 2006. .
As a child, I was alienated by the siesta. In my country of Germany, nobody forced me to do this. And maybe that’s why it struck me with full force when we were in Spain, at Easter and in the hot summer months, that the whole country suddenly and inevitably fell into a collective state of twilight.
The siesta began with my grandmother’s empty dishes, and my always noisy and restless family gradually quieted down. A strange silence fell that had nothing to do with the silence of the night, such a deliberate, absolute silence. I didn’t know what to do with it, I was twelve years old and very awake.
I have no other choice
The doors to the house are closed. In the library I heard my uncle snoring on the sofa. Sometimes I go outside, the sun is burning, the thermometer shows 39 degrees – only small street bars are open, a few men are sitting there with their hands bent on the table, eating on their teeth or saying money into one with large eyelid slot machines. I think their wives have kicked these poor dogs out of the house because they are useless, therefore they don’t deserve violence.
Back home, out of boredom, I turned on the TV and cracked sunflower seeds. What was in Germany the evening before appeared on television here during the siesta: “Falcon Crest” and “Baywatch”. During commercial breaks I watch bullfights with a mixture of loathing and fascination. The hands of the clock moved slowly, as if he too was taking a siesta.
Iron rule for real siesta: no pajamas, no duvet.Image AllianceI had no choice but to finally fall into the same watery ritual sleep as my cousins. Half awake, half asleep, I dreamed of Billy Warlock, the charming “Baywatch” lifeguard, and finally woke up to the smell of coffee and Nenuco, the Spanish cologne that my uncle used to recreate before returning to the office. is that good. the mood goes.
To this day, I wake up from my siesta every day with a fresh face that does not know the sand of the sun, no bad breath or wrinkles from the pillow on my face then I look forward to writing and office work, work appointments and video calls again. .
He stood dressed
There are many myths and stories surrounding the siesta. The French sociologist Roger Caillois spoke of the siesta as “the devil’s hour”. Even in ancient Greece, nymphs, sirens and gods filled the shadow time – this is one of the reasons why many retreated to their homes during the siesta. Of course, the shepherds could not help against the spirit of Anjonu ossan. The god Pan in particular is said to be responsible for teaching the poor shepherds to commit adultery during the siesta.
There is also an ongoing debate about how siesta should be taken to ensure maximum recovery. You can agree on these things: you take a siesta without pajamas or a blanket, you stay clothed, and you don’t do anything dark. There are no guidelines for the duration. But the rule is: the sun should be so bright that you can intuitively hold a bunch of keys in your hand. If a bunch of keys fall out of your hand, you’re too deep to sleep – then it’s no longer a siesta.
In Germany too, given the high temperatures, it’s the perfect time for a siesta. Cases of skin cancer among German domestic workers have risen dramatically in recent years, even as employers are required to distribute sunscreen. It is not healthy for workers in offices without air conditioning to work through the midday hours in temperatures above 30 degrees. Studies also show that the sun slows down the aging process, prevents accidents and increases productivity.
Humility, humility and joy in everyday life
In Spain, many people take a long break to eat at home with their children and then, the school hours are arranged accordingly. However, for working parents, this can lengthen the workday. The Spanish government also wants to put an end to this when it develops its new regulations for civil servants, which also intends to set an example for the private sector. But until today, the siesta culture at least promises a chance to really relax during the day.
Spain also had to learn this important lesson at some point. Siesta was only established in the 20th century. When Spain lost its colonies at the beginning of the century, it was exhausted and at a loss and fell into a kind of depression. At this time, the great philosopher Miguel de Unamuno showed in his essay “Life is a Dream” on the correction of humility, humility and happiness in the daily. Spain should focus on community, good food and siesta in order to learn real happiness again.
The company siesta can also be a relief in Germany, especially for workers who work outside.stopUnamuno also sees the siesta as an opportunity for collective renewal – as a Spanish renewal that does not need colonies, no war, no army to be content: a beautiful idea that I wish would still be realized in the present come. It’s time to learn from Spain. Siesta is a sweet offer that we should take – a candy that was given to us from the south of Europe and that we can drink without hesitation.
#German #learn #Spanish #siesta