Buzz
Across different cultures and through the course of history, certain moments during the day have held great significance. We reserve specific hours for activities that bring us joy, relaxation, or mental clarity. Sometimes, we even shape our whole day around particular hours, and some exact times have gained importance over time. These traditions have evolved over centuries, some being ancient while others are more modern. Here, we explore ten of the most influential moments of the day.
10. Spanish Siesta
The concept of the Spanish Siesta has made its way into everyday language. Sadly, it's often used in a negative sense to suggest laziness, which couldn't be further from the truth.
The word 'siesta' originates from the Latin term 'sexta,' which means 'sixth hour.' In ancient Rome, the day began at dawn, and the sixth hour was set aside for meals and rest. This tradition of midday breaks eventually spread to other cultures, especially the Spanish. After the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), most people worked two shifts: from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and then from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., which allowed many to enjoy a rest during the afternoon if they chose to.
In modern Spain, nearly 60% of the working population has never experienced a siesta. Yet, Spaniards now average only around 7 hours of sleep each night, a full hour below the recommended 8. It seems the issue of insufficient sleep isn't unique to Americans. Unlike George Costanza, who could nap under his desk, many rely on coffee and energy drinks to get through the day.
Spaniards are among the last Europeans to head to bed, with the average bedtime being around midnight—over an hour later than their French counterparts. Juan Jose Ortega, Vice President of the Spanish Society for Sleep, believes the siesta still has its place in modern Spain. Given that people are now sleeping over an hour less than their grandparents did, Ortega believes, 'A short siesta helps reduce stress, boosts the immune system, and enhances performance.'
9. Happy Hour
Who doesn't want to be happy, even if it's only for an hour a day? 'Happy Hour' refers to a period—usually lasting more than an hour—when bars and restaurants offer discounted food and drinks. After work, it's the perfect time to unwind with colleagues over discounted snacks and drinks. But the origin of the term 'Happy Hour' is somewhat unclear. Still, by looking at the history of the words, we can make an educated guess about its evolution.
'Happy' comes from the Middle English 'hap,' which derives from the Old Norse 'happ,' meaning 'good luck.' 'Hour' comes from the Latin 'hora,' which refers to 1/24th of a day, or one canonical hour. By the 19th century, 'happy hour' was used to describe organized entertainment. It's possible that bars and restaurants adopted this term to promote their discounted offerings. During World War I, the U.S. Navy used 'Happy Hour' to notify sailors when they could participate in leisure activities. Sailors likely brought the term home, and it eventually became part of popular culture.
8. Brahma Muhurta
In Hinduism, the last part of the night holds the most significance, covering the 90 minutes leading up to sunrise. This time is called Brahma Muhurta, and it's seen as the most spiritually rewarding part of the day. It is when the mind is clear and fresh, offering the perfect opportunity for self-care and reflection. Meanwhile, on this side of the world, many of us struggle even to glance at the clock during these early hours, let alone rise and be productive.
During Brahma Muhurta, it is believed that the body enjoys several benefits, such as improved immunity, increased energy, and relief from pain and fatigue. To make the most of this sacred time, five activities are encouraged: meditation, reading, planning, introspection, and cultivating memory. Engaging in food or mentally taxing tasks is not recommended during this time.
7. Afternoon Tea
Although we often associate the English with tea, they have not been drinking it for as long as we might think. The tradition of tea drinking actually originated in China around the third millennium BC. Fast forward to the late 17th century, during the reign of King Charles II. His new wife, Catherine de Braganza from Portugal, a country with its own strong tea tradition, brought tea with her to England. Before this, tea was mostly consumed for medicinal purposes and was quite expensive due to high import taxes. The aristocracy soon adopted Catherine’s habit, though it would still take some time before tea drinking became common among the general public.
By the mid-1840s, dinner in England had been pushed to much later in the evening. The Duchess of Bedford, Anna Russell, began experiencing hunger pangs in the mid-afternoon and requested tea along with some light snacks to be brought to her room. Not long after, she started inviting friends to join her. Thanks to her close relationship with Queen Victoria and her role as a lady-in-waiting, Anna’s tradition quickly became embraced by the aristocracy. As more tea was imported and became easier to obtain, these gatherings grew in popularity. Eventually, the rest of England joined in, with people sending out invitations to friends and family for regular tea and snack sessions, noting the hour and day of the week for these social occasions.
6. Japanese Temporal Time
In Japan, the concept of Temporal Time is used, where animals represent each two-hour block of the day. This system was borrowed from China. The order of animals is said to have been inspired by Buddha’s observations of the creatures under the Bodhi tree during his twelve years of meditation. Each sign of the zodiac aligns with approximately two hours of the day.
Here are the animals and the times of day they represent:
The Rat: 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. The Ox/Cow: 1:00 to 3:00 a.m. The Tiger: 3:00 to 5:00 a.m. The Rabbit: 5:00 to 7:00 a.m. The Dragon: 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. The Snake: 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The Horse: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Sheep: 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The Monkey: 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The Rooster/Chicken: 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Dog: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Pig: 9:00 to 11:00 p.m.
For nearly a millennium, water clocks were the standard in Japan. However, during the Edo Period (1603-1868), Japan began adopting Western clock-making methods to create devices better suited to their unique time system. Some clocks, like lantern clocks, were powered by a plumb bob, while others, such as the paperweight and carriage clocks, used a spring mechanism. After the Edo Period ended, these clocks gradually disappeared as Japan moved away from the temporal time system.
5. Graveyard Shift
Whether we've worked a 'graveyard shift' or not, we all know it refers to working late into the night, often into the following morning. Many businesses operate 24/7 and require staff at all hours of the day. Some jobs even demand working on schedules based on other countries' time zones, meaning employees must stay alert while the rest of us are asleep. But where did the term 'graveyard shift' actually come from?
First, there's no evidence linking the term to cemeteries. Some believed it referred to people sitting in graveyards overnight, listening for the bells associated with special coffins. There are conflicting accounts of the term's origins, but it's believed to have first appeared in the New Albany Evening Tribune in May 1895, describing the bleak nature of working the graveyard shift in a mine. It may have also appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune in June 1897, where it referred to policemen working late-night shifts. Regardless of its exact origin, working the graveyard shift likely means you'll be awake during the next time of day on our list.
4. The Witching Hour
Those familiar with the film Paranormal Activity know that most of the unsettling noises in the night occur around 3:00 a.m. This is believed to mark the start of the so-called witching hour. However, the exact time and origin of the term are not universally agreed upon, and the facts surrounding it are difficult to verify with reliable sources. So, take this information with a pinch of salt—maybe even toss it over your shoulder if you wish.
The phrase may trace back to 1535 or to Pope Pius IV in 1560. Regardless of its exact origin, the church soon began forbidding certain activities—particularly by women—during the hours of 3:00 to 4:00 a.m. Anyone found awake at that time was often suspected of being a witch. This paranoia spread, eventually influencing the infamous Salem Witch Trials.
Shakespeare himself is sometimes credited with coining the term, particularly in Hamlet, where he refers to the witching hour beginning at midnight. Today, many still associate it with 3:00 a.m., but not due to witchcraft. Instead, it is during this time that most people enter the deepest phase of sleep. As bodily functions slow down, waking at this hour can lead to confusion and sometimes panic. If I wake up thinking someone’s lurking in the corner of my room, I typically avoid checking the time—I don’t need to get even more freaked out.
3. Earth Hour
In 2007, Sydney, Australia, inspired by the WWF (World Wildlife Foundation), launched a 'lights out' event, marking the first Earth Hour. As of 2019, more than 185 countries participate in this annual event.
Each year, typically near the end of March (around the Spring/Autumn equinoxes, depending on your hemisphere), people are encouraged to turn off all non-essential lights. The WWF hopes this initiative will inspire people to think bigger and take action on climate change, fostering a broader commitment to the planet. Perhaps Earth Hour will one day be known as the moment when the largest number of people in the world feel united with each other.
2. 11:11
At some point, most of us have noticed 11:11 on a digital clock and been struck by its uniqueness. Why does this particular time draw our attention more than other random times?
No other time on the clock seems to have the same allure or symmetry as 11:11. The uniformity of it is visually satisfying, and it tends to linger in our minds longer than other fleeting glances at the clock. Perhaps this phenomenon is tied to Baader-Meinhof syndrome, which suggests that once we notice something new, we start to see it everywhere.
Confirmation bias plays a role too, reinforcing its significance each time we see it. Many of us might even remember who told us that it’s good luck to make four wishes when 11:11 appears on the clock. It seems that some people invest so much meaning into the numbers on a clock that they begin to believe in the connection to wish-making.
1. 10:10
Do people still buy watches these days? Unfortunately, many of us now rely on our cellphones to check the time instead of sporting a stylish watch on our wrist. One method watchmakers have long used to showcase their timepieces is by setting the hands to a particular time. Recently, 10:10 has become the popular choice. In 2009, 97 of the top 100 best-selling watches on Amazon were set to 10:10.
It turns out that aesthetics are the main reason behind the 10:10 setting. When the watch hands point to 10 and 2, the brand's logo is framed perfectly. The 10:10 position also creates symmetry, satisfying the brain's preference for balance and order. For photography purposes, Rolex sets their watches to 10:10:31, while Timex sets every watch, even digital ones, to 10:09:36.
Going back to the 1920s and 1930s, watches were almost always set to 8:20. Watchmakers soon realized that the hands pointing to 8 and 4 looked like a frown, and so they switched to the 10 and 2 position, which resembles a smile and is far more appealing. This subtle effect plays into the subconscious reactions advertisers use in print ads. As Linda Kaplan Thaler, CEO of Kaplan Thaler Group, explains, 'In advertising, we would never expect someone to look at a watch and say, ‘The watch is smiling,’ it’s just a feeling you get.'
