Nap
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A nap is a short period of sleep, typically taken during daytime hours as an adjunct to the usual nocturnal sleep period. Naps are most often taken as a response to drowsiness during waking hours or a
A man napping in a hammock, on a patio in Costa Rica
Agricultural workers napping on the flax they harvested
Naptime in a nursery, 1945
Siesta
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A midday nap is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after the midday meal. It is frequently called with its Spanish name siesta.
Nap
…sleep-deprived. Habitual nap: Naps taken as part of a daily routine rather than as a response to fatigue or deprivation. Common in cultures that practice siestas, or among age groups like young children and older adults. Caffeine nap: A nap taken soon after consuming caffeine or coffee to take advantage of the…
A painting of two farmers having a siesta (The siesta by Vincent van Gogh, 1890)
La méridienne ("Siesta") A painting of two farmers having a siesta, Jean-François Millet (1866)
Le repos ("Rest") A painting of a female farmer sleeping at noon, by Camille Pissarro (1882)
The book and the film Gone with the Wind depicts midday naps in 19th century American South as reserved only to masters, while slaves were not allowed to rest. This representation is consistent with historical research.