It is often served as a sandwich, as well.
Historically, the Spanish siesta actually originated in Italy with the Romans. They stopped to rest at the sixth hour of sunlight, which roughly corresponds to 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (BBC, 2017).
In Spain, the siesta tradition began with agricultural workers. To avoid the Mediterranean sun's most intense heat, midday became a time to rest (often with a short nap), refuel and prepare for work later in the day. This break was especially important for workers who held multiple jobs and often needed time to travel between them in post-Civil War (post-1939) Spain.
In modern times, the Spanish economy has not been the strongest. As of 2025, Spain had the second-highest unemployment rate in the European Union at 10% (National Statistics Institute, 2025). This has led to presentismo, or presenteeism, which is when workers are physically present at work but aren't able to do their most productive work. Despite the siesta tradition, many workers feel pressured to stay at work through the midday siesta to keep their jobs.
I have observed this presenteeism during my time in Spain. My apartment overlooks a tourism agency's office. In the morning, the office is full and bustling with energy. However, midday is often much quieter, with a few workers left. Especially for younger workers, the pressure to be present can feel especially strong.
