Naptime: History and Practice of the Spanish Siesta

For Americans who visit Spain, the concept of a siesta, or a midday nap may seem very strange indeed. Americans are known for living fast-paced and very hectic lives with little, if any downtime. However, for those who embrace the concept of a siesta there are many rewards. The practice of taking a siesta extends back in time a long way and is woven into the Spanish culture.

 

The Definition of La Siesta

Technically the term La Siesta means a 15 to 30 minute uninterrupted rest. However, in Spain and other parts of the world a siesta usually means that shops and businesses close down from around 2pm through 5pm and bars and restaurants close from 4pm until 8 or 9pm.

 

Roots of a Siesta

It is very hot in Spain, especially in the afternoon. Traditionally a siesta was taken by Spanish field workers in order to get some shelter from the blazing afternoon sun. Other countries such as South America, Africa and the Philippines also embrace the concept of a siesta to escape the sun and heat.

Modern Day Siesta

Even with the modern day siesta, employees and business owners return ready to work well into the evening hours. Since very few people actually get enough sleep in America, a siesta may be a practice worth considering. Even though shop and restaurant owners are not out in the hot sun, and many have air conditioning, they still embrace the concept of a siesta. Part of this has to do with the fact that they like to have a very long lunch and spend time with friends and family. Spanish families still gather at lunchtime to enjoy each other’s company and some down time. Spanish businesses also stay open later at night, and Spanish people tend to be very productive well into the evening thanks to their siesta. If you visit Spain, you will find a buzzing nightlife and people well up in age still up working and milling about the streets.

 

Is the Siesta Being Threatened?

While a long workday and late nights with friends and family is customary in Spain, many residents are no longer taking traditional siesta to compensate for the longer hours and late nights. As with many Americans, the younger generations in Spain now see the siesta as being unproductive. With this mentality, the siesta is becoming somewhat of an endangered institution in some parts of the country.  With many multinational companies moving into Spain, businesses are eager to capitalize on as long a workday as possible. A Spanish citizens’ advice group states that Spain’s office hours should end early to compensate for the fact that fewer people are taking. Recent studies show that Spaniards sleep one hour less than other Europeans, a fact that did not show up until people started to abandon the siesta. Many long time supporters of the siesta are not so eager to let the cultural practice disappear. They claim it is healthy not only physically but also emotionally and strengthens family ties.

 

About the Author: Susan Patterson is a home educator and freelance writer. She recently wrote an article about how to learn Spanish in a short amount of time.

Christmas Traditions in Sweden

Family traditions and culture are never seen more clearly than they are during the Christmas season. Christmas in Sweden is marked by a number of historical traditions and festivities that are still widely practiced today. It is always interesting to study these traditions in light of our own and enjoy the many different ways that Christmas is remembered.

 

Counting the Days

Most homes have an Advent calendar and children usually have their own. The first Sunday in the month of December is known as Advent Sunday. Families begin to count down the days until Christmas using an Advent calendar; children are especially fond of these calendars. Although there are many variations of this calendar, most have a flap for each day that opens up with a Christmas picture inside and a treat, usually chocolate.

 

Special Gifts

Families and friends usually exchange thoughtful handmade gifts that they either make themselves or purchase at the Christmas Market. Gifts of candy, ornaments and other special favors are wrapped and sealed with special sealing wax. Many people include a heartfelt verse or note with their gift.

 

St. Lucia’s Day

St. Lucia is known as the patron saint of light, and most Christmas festivities begin on St. Lucia Day, December 13. Traditional celebrations begin with the oldest daughter dressing early in the morning, before anyone is up, as the “Queen of Light.” She puts on a beautiful white dress and a crown made of woven leaves and candles. She visits each family members bedroom and sings “Santa Lucia,” while she delivers coffee and sweet breakfast treats.

 

Christmas Tree

Unlike many people in America who get their Christmas tree weeks before Christmas, Swedes get their trees just one or two days prior to Christmas. Homemade ornaments and figures of Christmas gnomes are used to decorate along with lights.

The lights are turned on the tree after dinner. Tomte, a tiny Christmas gnome, much like America’s Santa Claus, delivers Christmas presents. He comes to each house in a sleigh that is pulled by a goat.

 

Christmas Day Meal

The Christmas meal is served around midday and a common tradition involves dipping bread into an iron kettle containing broth. This practice is a reminder of times when there was very little food to go around, and many people were hungry. However, this is quickly followed by a large meal with dried fish, ham, pork sausage, spiced breads, herring salad and boiled potatoes. The meal is followed by a wide variety of sweet treats including pudding, pies and cakes.

 

After Christmas

The day after Christmas is known as “Second Day Christmas” and a day for singing carols. January 5th is known as the eve of the Twelfth Night. Boys dress up like Wise Men and travel around to different homes with lit candles on a pole that is topped with a star, singing carols. St. Knut’s Day is on January 13th. Adults in the home take down the Christmas decorations while children in costumes pick candy from the tree.

 

About the Author: Susan Patterson is a freelance writer with an interest in studying other cultures. She recently wrote an article regarding how to how to learn Russian for travelling.

The Rich History of French Cuisine

In America, we have a tendency to rush through our meals, eat out and put very little planning into the execution of a meal. For the French, a meal is a total experience. It is meant to be not only a feast for the stomach but also a feast for the eyes. French food is, by nature, intricate, elaborate, and delicious and an art that is appreciated by people all over the world. The roots of French cuisine can be traced back in history a long way.

 

The Middle Ages

French cuisine dates back to the Middle Ages when French meals were served in a style known as en confusion, which meant that meals were served all at once. A meal might consist of spiced meat including beef, poultry, fish and pork. Meals were also very seasonal in nature and centered on what was available and fresh. The French were also masters at food preservation. Meats were salted to preserve, and vegetables were put in jars and salted so that they could be enjoyed during the winter months. Chefs in the Middle Ages were very concerned with presentation, as they still are today. Edible garnishments such as egg yolks, saffron, and spinach were used to add color and texture to a meal. A favorite French Middle Age dinner was a roast swan or peacock that was sewn into its skin to after cooking to make it look all together, feathers and all. Feet and beaks were coated in gold for an extravagant display.

 

Italian Influence

When Catherine de Medici married France's King Henry II in the mid-sixteenth century, she introduced Italian food and cooking practices into the French court. Not long after this, another Italian married a French king and more Italian cuisine influences were introduced. The way food was prepared and served; including elaborate table dressings were all influenced in part by the Italians.

 

The First French Cookbook

In 1652, French chef La Varenne wrote the very first French cookbook titled “ Le Cuisine Francois.” The book held many French food secrets and detailed instructions on some of the most popular French dishes of the time. In addition, the book stood as a testimony to the progressive nature of French cuisine and its strong importance in the French culture.

 

Wine

Not much can be said about French cuisine without some mention of wine. Wine is an essential ingredient to the French dining experience. At elaborate dinner parties, a different wine is served with each course depending on what is being served. The French are experts at marrying wine and food and seem to know exactly which wine will enhance the flavor of a meal or a particular course in the meal. Of course, who could forget that it was Don Perignon, a Frenchman who invented champagne.

 

Key Ingredients in French Food

The French are renowned for using some key ingredients in their fine food. You can expect to find such things as butter, cheese, brown onions, potatoes, herbs, Djon mustard, bread, garlic and turnips in a number of popular French dishes.

 

About the Author: Susan Patterson is a freelance writer with a love for French cuisine and culture. She recently completed an article about how to learn French when you plan to travel to France

Greek Superstitions: They Don’t Really Believe That Do They?

Greece lies at the southeastern edge of Europe and is bordered by Yugoslavia and Bulgaria on the north, and Turkey on the northeast. The beautiful Aegean Sea is on the east, the Mediterranean Sea on the south, and the Ionian Sea on the west. There are more than 400 Greek islands, of which 149 are inhabited. Greece is beautiful, culturally rich, ancient and full of superstitions that are still practiced by many residents to this day.

 

The Evil Eye

The evil eye superstition is common in many cultures throughout the Mediterranean Sea, Turkey, Arabia, Greece and even India. The evil eye, also known as “Matiasma,” is one of the oldest beliefs in Greece dating back to the 6th century BC. Even the Greek Orthodox Church believes in the evil eye and calls it “Vaskania.”

The superstition behind the evil eye is the belief that people can harm you, your family, your fruit trees or even your livestock by simply looking at them with envy and praising them. If someone gives you the evil eye, it is thought that you will feel bad both physically and psychologically. To ward off the evil eye, Greeks wear a blue glass eye charm is worn. These charms hang off of their necks and wrists to confound the evil eye. It is also thought that when people with blue eyes pay you a compliment it could bring disastrous results. Garlic is also thought to defend the evil eye and some people hang it in their homes. The cactus plant is also thought to bring a measure of protection, and many Greeks have at least one cactus in their homes.

Sneezing

Greek superstition says that if you sneeze, someone else is speaking about you where you cannot hear. If you are curious and want to find out who it is, you can ask someone around you to give you a 3-digit number. Count each digit down the alphabet. When you hit the last letter, this is the first initial of the person who has been doing the talking. If you know a lot of people with that initial, you may have your work cut out for you.

No Empty Pockets

Greeks believe that money attract more money. Because of this belief, they never leave their pockets, wallets or purses with some money. They do not take all the money out of their bank accounts either. When they give gifts of wallets or purses they always put some money in them first.

 

Overturned Shoes

In some areas in Greece, overturned shoes are thought to be an omen of death. If your shoes are turned upside down, it is imperative that you turn them right side immediately and say “Skorda,” which means garlic in Greek.

Knives

When someone asks for a knife, Greeks do not pass it directly to their hand. They believe that if the other person takes if from their hand that they will have an argument. Instead, they place the knife close to the other person and allow them to pick it up.

 

Superstitions have long been a part of the human race and have been passed on by generation to generation. While many people will just laugh at a superstition, others take them very seriously. There is no doubt that many of these interesting Greek superstitions, that have survived the test of time, will persist well into the future.

 

About the Author: Susan Patterson is a homeschool mother who values teaching her children about other cultures, languages and traditions. She recently wrote an article about how to learn Spanish.