Guatemala: Sleeping with worry dolls
According to Mayan tradition in Guatemala, if you are sad or worried, you can find relief by sleeping with Worry Dolls underneath your pillow. They believe that the when you wake up the next morning, all your worries will have been taken away by the dolls.
Bali: Fear sleep
Fear sleep or todoet poeles is unique to Bali in Indonesia. People there are known to fall into deep-sleep during stressful situations.
Japan: Napping in public
In Japan, people are known to work for very long hours, causing them to have to take quick naps while at work. Research has shown that taking a short naps during work actually increases productivity and alertness.
Mexico: Resting in hammocks
People in Mexico have a really nice opportunity to relax in hammocks, as well as in beds.
Norway: Kids nap outdoors
In Norway it’s not uncommon to see a child sleeping in a stroller without their parents anywhere in sight. Parents believe that letting their kids breathe in fresh air while sleeping will strengthen their immunity. And given that Norway has consistently been ranked among the safest countries to live, parents seemingly have no reason to worry about leaving them unattended.
Spain: Taking a siesta
The typical Spanish working day begins at around 9 am to around 1:30 pm and then continues from around 4:30 pm to 8 pm. Sound odd? During this afternoon break or siesta as it is called, people go home, have a filling lunch, and go to sleep.
United Kingdom: Sleeping naked
According to research conducted by The National Sleep Foundation, one-third of the people surveyed in the UK reported sleeping naked.
United States: Sleeping with pets
While there are conflicting theories regarding the benefits of sleeping with pets, this is the way America goes to sleep. Surveys have suggested that over 70% of pet owners share their bed with their furry friends.
Afghanistan: Multipurpose bedrooms
The concept of separate bedrooms is non-existent in Afghanistan. Rooms throughout the house serve multiple purposes. When the time comes to lay down to sleep, people unfold mattresses and bed sheets and sleep over them. Then in the morning, they fold them back up and put to the side.
Co-sleeping traditions
While it might seem far-fetched to most people living in the US and the UK today, up until the 19th Century co-sleeping was a common practice even in the industrialized west. Today it is practiced in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and is said to be beneficial according to many studies.
Children’s bedtimes in different countries:
While it is assumed that kids all over the world go to sleep around the same time, it is actually far from the truth. Let’s have a look at the bedtimes in various countries of infants and toddlers:
Between 6:30 pm and 7 pm: Netherlands
Between 7 pm and 8 pm: New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom
Between 8 pm and 9 pm: Indonesia, Canada, Philippines, United States, Thailand, China
Between 9 pm and 10 pm: Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia
Between 10 pm and 10:30 pm: South Korea, Taiwan, India, Hong Kong
