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Spain -

Wouldn't it be great if we could take a nap after lunch? This is exactly what the Spanish siesta is all about.

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South Korea -

Sleeping with an electric fan on in South Korea is a no-no. All because of "fan death," which is an old urban myth that many people believe to this day. The belief is that operating a fan in a closed room consumes oxygen and makes the temperature drop to deadly levels.

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Indonesia -

Some Bali residents master a technique called “fear sleep,” where they can fall asleep on demand when they're stressed out.

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United Kingdom -

We have written before about the benefits of being naked, and it looks like more than 20% of Brits like to do so under the sheets...

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France -

Babies in France are known to sleep through the night since a very early age. Parents manage this by delaying soothing the baby as soon as they wake up from their short sleep cycles. It's a technique known as “the pause."

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USA -

Snuggling up with a pet is great. A survey found that 74% of American dog owners share the bed or couch with their pets.

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Japan -

Have you ever felt like dozing off while at work? Well, in Japan it's a sign that you're working a lot and are therefore tired. The concept is known as inemuri, and it's regarded as a good thing; a sort of badge of honor for working until you drop!

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Guatemala -

Children in Guatemala sleep with these handmade “worry dolls” under their pillows. They're supposed to soothe children who will go to bed knowing their worries and problems won't disturb them because the muñeca quitapena is there with them.

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South India -

Women in South India tie their hair before they go to bed. Apparently this is a way to avoid becoming possessed.

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Switzerland -

Newborns sleep in a hängematten, which is essentially a hammock. The rocking motion is supposed to mimic the movement they experienced in the womb, soothing them.

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Italy -

Riposo is Italy's answer to the Spanish siesta. Long lunch breaks of up to four hours are a way to ensure they have plenty of time for a refreshing nap.

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Scandinavia -

In Northern Europe, it's common for parents to put their babies napping al fresco, even in winter. This exposure to fresh (and sometimes quite cold) air is supposed to strengthen their immune system.

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Norway -

The phenomenon known as Midnight Sun keeps people up until later in Norway, with some undertaking activities they'd often do during the day late at night instead.

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Singapore -

According to a 2016 study, people in Singapore sleep less on average when compared to other countries, at about 7 hours and 24 minutes.

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Belgium -

According to a 2014 survey, Belgian women go to bed quite early, at around 10:30 pm, on average.

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Canada -

It's not uncommon for Inuit people to snuggle up between two people. This an effective way to stay warm.

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Brazil -

There is a community in Baependi, Minas Gerais who retained pre-industrial sleeping habits. They usually go to bed at 9:20 pm and get up at 6:30 am.

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Egypt -

Egyptians are fans of polyphasic sleep. They usually divide their sleep between a few hours at night and few in the afternoon.

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Mexico -

A 2013 survey found that over 60% of Mexicans pray or meditate before they go to bed.

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Finland -

Mothers-to-be receive a box full of supplies from the Finnish government. The boxes can double as cribs.

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South Africa -

The way some indigenous groups protect themselves from a mythical creature called tokoloshe (depicted on the left) is by elevating their beds with bricks.

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China -

Feng Shui is very popular across China. According to its principles, a mirror will reflect the energy back at a person when placed opposite the bed. This should be avoided.

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Germany -

In Germany, couples ensure they're covered up all night by using two comforters instead of a common one. This is also popular in Austria and Scandinavian countries.

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Australia -

Co-sleeping is common in some Aboriginal groups. They sleep together in a row, with the most vulnerable (i.e. children and the elderly) laying in the middle.

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Botswana -

Forager groups in Botswana practice polyphasic sleep: they just sleep and wake up whenever it suits them.

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Afghanistan -

Many Afghans use their bedroom for other things during the day. It's not uncommon for them to just fold the sheets and push the mattress to the side to make room for other activities to take place in the room.

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Sub-Saharan Africa -

It's common for people in countries in this region to sleep with mosquito nets over their beds. It's especially important because diseases such as malaria can be transmitted by mosquitoes.

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Slovakia - According to a survey conducted in 2014-2015, the country has the best average sleep quality in the world.

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Argentina -

Kids in Argentina don't go to bed until around 10 pm, and sometimes even later.

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Space -

Here's a fun one! Astronauts have to get into their special sleeping bags and strap themselves in so they don't float around while asleep. Can we call it sleepfloating?

Sources: (Sunday Citizen)

See also: The ways that being deprived of sleep can harm you

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