Banks are closed and even the car dealership (which we so carefully planned to get to *first thing* this morning so we wouldn’t have to wait in line) is closed.
Finally, we figured out that today is Constitution Day. Well, actually, yesterday was Constitution Day but the first Monday of February has been officially declared Consititution Day by the federal government.
When we first moved to the Yucatan, we noticed how people often didn’t work on Monday. We were told that it was San Lunes (Saint Monday). That tradition is related to an even older one. Maya who worked on haciendas were required to work on Mondays for free. The Maya were taxed by the government and paid their taxes in labor (which they had) instead of money (which they didn’t have). After awhile, resentments grew over this arrangement. People started not showing up on Mondays… thus, San Lunes. And we’ve read this was one of the conditions that led to the Caste Wars. Sadly, San Lunes (and the tradition of siesta) seems to be disappearing as more and more workers and businesses in Merida are becoming ‘Modernized’.
Even Mondays have a history around here…
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It`s sad to read from people like you this bad habbits that the mexican government applies to “improve the tourism” because as you know the constitution day it has been every february 5th not february 6th (lazy policy) but don’t worry about it next president will change this policy to the official constitution day the fifth. That santa lunes and siesta are habbits of yucatecan people belive me we’re trying to change that image for foreign people.
But, Miguel, we like siestas!
Personally, I love “siesta” and think it is one of the more civilized characteristics of Yucatecan culture. What are people in such a hurry for? There is no place any of us has to be that is so important that we should give up a well ordered, healthy lifestyle.
Miguel, the “habits” of the Yucatecan people are part of their cultural identiy. There is nothing wrong with such things as siesta, and very well may be everything right about it (from a wellness point of view). Never - ever - change who you are, or what you do, as a people, simply to impress “foreigners.” Did it ever occur to you that those same foreigners may be jealous of your way of life? I hope we never lose such things as siesta because the alternative is the “Rat Race.” We all know the end of that story - and there is nothing nice about it.