For millennia, cultures across the globe have cherished the restorative power of the afternoon siesta. This time-honored ritual of stealing a brief respite in the middle of the day dates to the ancient Egyptians, who sought refuge from the sweltering heat on cool stone pillows as early as 1500 BC. The Greeks and Romans also heartily embraced the nap, with luminaries like Aristotle and Plato extolling the virtues of a post-lunch slumber. Beds and couches were even expressly designed for languid lounging.

As civilization marched forward, the nap stayed a steadfast companion. Pious monks napped according to strict schedules in the Middle Ages, while wealthy nobles followed suit, indulging in sumptuous feasts and lengthy siestas. From the sun-dappled streets of Spain to the rolling hills of Italy to the bustling markets of China, the nap was woven into the very fabric of daily life. In Spain, the sobremesa reigns supreme, a languorous affair stretching from 2-4pm. Italians treasure their riposo as a hallmark of civility and key to proper digestion. Greek workers have even enshrined the right to nap in their employment contracts! Across Latin America, entire families retreat home for comida and 2-3-hour siesta. And in China and Japan, a quick post-lunch snooze is seen as essential nourishment for the mind and soul.