Do Spaniards really take a siesta?

The siesta, honestly

The siesta is one of the most famous clichés about Spain, and most Spaniards do not take one. Surveys put the daily nappers at about one in six, and more than half say they never nap. The siesta exists above all at weekends, on holiday and in summer, and on the sofa of many grandparents, with the television on.

What visitors actually meet is the split working day, the horario partido. Many small shops open from ten to two and from five to half past eight, and between two and five some streets go quiet. Supermarkets, department stores and shopping centres usually stay open all day.

The word itself is older than the custom: siesta comes from the Latin sexta, the sixth hour counted from sunrise, which was midday — the hottest part of the day, when people in the fields stopped work.

• Only about one Spaniard in six takes a siesta every day; more than half say they never do.
• Many small shops open from ten to two and from five to half past eight; larger shops usually stay open all day.
• Siesta comes from the Latin sexta, the sixth hour: the Romans counted the hours from sunrise, so the sixth hour was midday.
• In summer many offices work a jornada intensiva, from eight to three. It is common in July and August but not a legal right: it depends on the agreement or the company.
• Phoning somebody at home between about three and five can be taken as rude, especially by older people. If a shop is shut at three, come back at five.

Pero la mayoría de los españoles no duerme la siesta.

But most Spaniards do not take a siesta.

Siesta viene del latín sexta, la hora sexta.

Siesta comes from the Latin sexta, the sixth hour.

Muchas tiendas pequeñas abren de diez a dos y de cinco a ocho y media.

Many small shops are open from ten to two and from five to half past eight.

Y si una tienda está cerrada a las tres, vuelva a las cinco.

And if a shop is shut at three, come back at five.