Talk:Siesta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Contents |
[edit] 12 hours
This part of the article is without citation and makes no sense: "In recent years, studies have suggested a biological need for afternoon naps. The body is on a roughly 24-hour body clock, which makes you wind down twice (peaking in periods separated by around 12 hours): in the night and in the afternoon." There is no citation for these alleged "studies" and what does it mean "peaking in periods separated by around 12 hours"? Does that mean if you go to sleep at 11 PM you'll feel sleepy again at 11 AM (even though you've only been up for 4 hours)? This part of the article needs to be explained (with citations) or removed. Suitsyou (talk) 07:57, 8 December 2007 (UTC)
- I think it's correct but poorly written. Will look for proper links. --Hordaland (talk) 23:06, 29 December 2007 (UTC)
it also doesn't make sense because, if we peak in periods of 12 hours, then aren't we on a roughly 12-hour body clock instead of a 24-hour?Thinkdunson (talk) 00:49, 25 February 2008 (UTC)
- Ooops. I forgot all about my promise to do something about that paragraph. It's really not well-written, since winding down and peaking aren't usually synonyms.
- But no, Thinkdunson, there's more to the 24-hour clock than strongest sleep propensity. Core body temperature, appetite, urination and several hormones show ~24-hour rhythms.
- Strongest sleep propensity is not at bedtime, as Suitsyou assumes, but about halfway through the night when you've essentially taken care of the day's acquired sleep debt. The circadian system kicks in then and keeps you asleep until well past the body temperature minimum. So the 2 a.m. / 2 p.m. rule makes sense in that way. I don't know that anyone's explained the why of the "post-lunch dip", but it's there. Sticky note to self: Fix that paragraph. --Hordaland (talk) 09:02, 25 February 2008 (UTC)
[edit] "anti-siesta"?
Does anyone know a word for the opposite of a nap, the biological period of wakefulness or semi-wakefulness for an hour or so in the middle of the night? I've seen 'first sleep' and 'second sleep' for the sleep on either side of it, and this is true in several languages, but never anything for the period of wakening itself. Dormeille may be used in French, but that only means being half asleep, not this period in particular.
-- It is called "Tahajjud" in Arabic. (24/12/06)
Anyway, it might be interesting to discuss this in the article. This is the time when many couples talk and make love, as they have some peace and quiet at these hours. kwami 03:13, 19 November 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Middle East
Can someone write up a bit on what things are like in the Middle East? AFAIK, things shut down in the afternoon in some parts such as Saudi Arabia but I'm not completely sure Nil Einne 19:44, 4 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Reasons for siesta
In light of recent research from the Univeersity of Manchester, UK, the reasons for a siesta should be changed. It currently states that it is only the body temperature reducing that causes sleepiness during the day, but this latest research shows it is glucose in food turning off cells that keep us alert that causes it.
See here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5037720.stm with links to the University, the journal where it was published and the British Sleep Society.
Princess schminke 07:07, 6 August 2006 (UTC)
-
- The same article refers to other hypothesis. E.g., that explain why, contrary to the eating-hunger story, we don't get sleepy after breakfast:
Neil Stanley, director of sleep research at the Human Psychopharmacology Research Unit Medical Research Centre at the University of Surrey, said the work was interesting. But he added: "There are many behavioural, circadian and societal factors that also determine whether we nap in the afternoon or not. "The siesta is not only dependant on the intake of food. "We naturally have a dip in alertness around 2pm to 4pm that happens whether we eat lunch or not. "We also do not get tired after eating breakfast because we are on the rising phase of our circadian rhythm."
--Jclerman 07:39, 6 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Portuguese Origin
In Origins of the iberian siesta say:
"The siesta is the traditional daily sleep of the Southern region of Alentejo, in Portugal, known as sesta. It was adopted also by the Spanish and, through European influence, by Latin American countries and the Philippines."
This is the first time that i hear about this hypothesis, traditionally the origin is in Spain or generally Iberian Peninsula, but Alentejo... Should be put with a "citation required" or i will change it for "iberian origin" only.
-Fco
[edit] "Canadian siesta"
I removed this passage because it is clearly absurd:
"In Canada, this is a relatively new social event that occurs on from 13:00 to 14:00. Canadians encorporate this northern siesta into their lifestyles as a technique to prolong the body's energy levels during frigid winters. Canadians that practice this imitate the hibernation techniques of bears that frequent Canadian parks. The Canadian siesta is slowly growing in popularity and studies have shown it increases worker productivity and levels of alertness for children and is a common practice in day cares. [1]"
The source is a discussion forum thread (!) on the napping habits of young children. Moreover, I've never heard of such a thing as a "Canadian siesta" and there certainly are no "bears that frequent Canadian parks," unless the author of this passage was referring to national parks far removed from any town or city. In any case, don't bears hibernate for the entire length of the winter?
--Kilgore MTL 00:30, 28 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Possible Vandalism
In the "Origin of Iberian Siesta," it mentions the name "Nick Shader" and "Matt Goodlett." Does anyone else spot these? And what about the Louisville, Kentucky reference, I thought it is a city in USA, not in Iberian peninsula.
[edit] Total daily sleep hours
The article suggests that the Spanish siesta is a short time of sleep even though the interval allotted to it is much longer. In view of the late time of the evening meal (and therefore of going to bed) in Spain, where the working day starts at the same time as elsewhere, I suggest that the siesta comprises far more than a nap and is necessary to make up the amount of daily sleep needed. Does anybody know what is the average total daily time asleep in the siesta and in the night in Hispanic siesta-practising regions; and whether the two add up to the average night figure in non-siesta countries? - AG, Stockport, UK. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.179.135.217 (talk) 11:51, 12 November 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Too much emphasis on hot weather
This is anecdotal or OR so I won't put it into the article. Farmers in Norway have always sova middag, "slept dinner". The main and heavy meal was at noon and people slept for a half an hour or so just afterwards. Some still do, of course. But the bulk of the population now keeps city hours and have dinner between 4 and 6 pm usually. And then many of them søv middag, "sleep dinner". If not every day, the idiom is still very much a part of the language. The word siesta is from southern Europe, but the custom probably exists/existed in many places. The weather may have something to do with it, but it's not just that. --Hordaland (talk) 23:20, 29 December 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Brazil
"Although colonized by Portugal, being part of South America, and clearly dominated by equatorial to tropical climate, Brazil stands in glaring cultural contrast in regard to the adoption of an afternoon nap."
That "glaring" word is inflammatory, as if there's something wrong with Brazil. Does Brazil have a siesta or not? If not, why not? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sluggoster (talk • contribs) 07:40, 27 April 2008 (UTC)
Hi, this is from Brazil. We don't have a siesta. Or at least not the majority of the population; there may be some parts of the country that adopt the siesta, but certainly most of it does not. I have no idea why we don't have it. It surely is a good idea. ;-) I don't know about the "glaring"... it doesn't look that bad to me ;-) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 189.27.134.14 (talk) 13:27, 17 May 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Northern Spain, Southern Argentina
It says in the article that some parts of countries where siesta is common are colder, like northern Spain and southern Argentina. Are siestas taken in these parts as well? Drogo (talk) 17:48, 19 May 2008 (UTC)
I can confirm from personal experience that the siesta is common in the north of Spain amongst older generations. I have the impression that it is less common amongst younger people. I've never been to Argentina. Thunderbird2 (talk) 17:55, 19 May 2008 (UTC)
