The forgotten medieval habit of 'two sleeps'

[elleng]

For millennia, people slept in two shifts – once in the evening, and once in the morning. But why? And how did the habit disappear?

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220107-the-lost-medieval-habit-of-biphasic-sleep?

[secondwind]

1. Fascinating, but extremely long, I had to bookmark for later.

But VERY very interesting stuff there! Thanks for posting!

[littlemissmartypants]

2. Really interesting. Thanks for sharing. ❤

[Basic LA]

3. Read Harlem Shuffle by Coleson Whitehead

The novel's hero adopts this ancient sleep method, much to his benefit.

[Bayard]

4. Isn't that called a, "Nap?"

Bookmarking for later.

[KPN]

5. Some of us still do this, or at least it seems so when I look at DU at 2,3, or 4 at night after my

1st sleep. Usually, I read for anywhere between a half hour and 2 or even 3 hours before getting my second sleep. Been doing it for years. There are a lot of folks who post here in the middle of the night.

[elleng]

6. I often post here 'in the middle of the night,' but

I usually haven't had my 'first sleep' yet; that will happen in an hour or so.

I DO sometimes 'nap' mid-day, and usually don't know for how long.

[KPN]

7. Yes, you do!

[Haggard Celine]

8. I do it a lot.

I went to sleep about 8:30 and just got up about midnight. I'll go back to sleep about 4:00 and get up about 7 or 8 for the day.

[brer cat]

9. Interesting read.

Thanks for posting, elleng.

[WarGamer]

10. love love love stories like this... thx elleng!!

[PSPS]

11. Contemporary writings of the time referred to it as "fyrst sleep."

[Celerity]

12. Highly recommended

[dameatball]

13. Very interesting read. I find this pattern even more common post retirement. In general, I have

no need for clocks unless there is something out of the ordinary happening.

[Delmette2.0]

16. You beat me to it.

I have the same sleep cycle developing. I am not consist, but it is happening.

[dameatball]

17. yeah, I never really thought it could be what is natural for some. Kind of comforting actually.

[Delmette2.0]

18. Yes! It is comforting.

[2naSalit]

14. I have always had those sleep patterns...

It made it difficult for some jobs I've had. Just like only being able to eat when I'm hungry, I can only sleep when tired enough to sleep and only for three to five hours at a time. Even though some claim you don't go into the dream state in that amount of time, I beg to differ. I fall into dreamtime easily, in minutes, and I often recall my dreams, even years later.

I agree with the hypothesis of natural sleep patterns being disrupted by the industrial revolution. I hope our species can wean itself off of many of the unnatural practices that are not healthy.

[eppur_se_muova]

15. Thank you so much for posting this! Years ago, I heard an interview on NPR ...

... about the "watch(ing?) hour", and how people used to sleep in two shifts. I had thought "The Watching Hour" was the title of the book being discussed with its author, but I could never find a book by that title. Finally, I did come across the book mentioned in the BBC article, which is probably the same one, but haven't read it yet (it's quite long ).

My new word for the day is "cathemeral", meaning awake during both night and day. I guess it is the complement of "crepuscular", meaning active in the twilight hours, as cats are -- suggesting that cats and humans have naturally opposite circadian cycles.

[elleng]

19. NAP TIME!

Closing my eyes, will see for how long.

[elleng]

20. 30 minutes.

Last edited Wed Jan 19, 2022, 07:47 PM - Edit history (1)

and 2d 30 minute nap.