The legendary Spanish siesta could soon be another victim of the Eurozone crisis, according to Reuters. The concept of an afternoon nap, a time-honored tradition in Spanish culture, is under threat due as Spain faces up to overwhelming levels of unemployment and huge budget deficits.

Spain has unquestionably been one of the countries hit hardest by the eurozone crisis. The country’s unemployment stands at a massive 24.6 percent (and rising), with the young particularly affected. As The Wall Street Journal reports, Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has admitted he faces two choices: “between the bad and the even worse.”

The crisis has forced Spaniards to take stock of how their working day is structured, with a growing number now bypassing the traditional daily nap (which usually follows a large lunch) to help maximize production.

However, there are those Spaniards who are fighting to preserve the siesta. In 2010, CNN (via Huff Post) reported on a novel new competition in the west European country: the first ever national siesta championship in Madrid.

Reuters’ report adds that many Spanish workers are still having large office lunches with fellow employees, as a way of maintaining the enjoyable aspects of the tradition; indeed, selected public schools are even banning children from bringing packed lunches to school.

Will you mourn for the loss of the Spanish siesta?

Spanish Siesta Could Be Made Extinct By Eurozone Crisis is a post from: The Inquisitr