¿Es la siesta todavía se observan en México? / Is the siesta still observed in Mexico?

Question

¿Es la siesta todavía se observan en México? ¿Específicamente, se observó en la Ciudad de México?

Is the siesta still observed in Mexico? Specifically, is it observed in Mexico Ciudad?

Answer 1

Hi Aloshek.:

While I was in Oaxaca many businesses closed down from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. so that people could go home and have lunch with their families.

• My daughter has done a lot of work in Chiapas, which I think is just east of the state of Oaxaca. - Nicole-B Nov 9, 2009

Answer 2

I don't believe the siesta is practiced everywhere in Mexico anymore, particularly in Mexico City where the population is so large. The whole transportation system would be negatively effected if there was a daily siesta. It may still be common practice in smaller villages.

In parts of the Dominican Republic, there definitely is a daily siesta. Everything comes to a complete stop for two hours or so. This is quite an adjustment for those of us who are used to getting most of our work done during the early afternoon hours.

Answer 3

The siesta is practiced in Sonora, Mexico, but mostly only by professional kinds of services. Stores don't close from 1 to 3PM, but dentists and doctors do.

Even here in the Arizona county where I live, doctors, dentists, and even the local clinic observe "la siesta." We're 85% Spanish-speaking and my town is only 20 minutes from the border which may be the cause.

The county to the north of us has 50% Spanish-speaking, but the "rules about siesta" don't apply there.

• I think it would be great to be only fifteen minutes from the border. You have the opportunity to be immersed in the language with only a short ride. - Nicole-B Nov 9, 2009
• It is! It is! In fact, I only have to walk up my driveway to be immersed in a conversation with my largely Spanish-speaking and wonderful vecinos. - 005457e3 Nov 9, 2009

Answer 4

Estaba acabo conversando con un nativo de la México Ciudad y dijo solo unas pocas ciudades pequeñas o pueblos de la práctica. Lo llamó un mito

I was just conversing with a native of Mexico City and he said only a few small cities or towns practice it. He called it a myth.