Colombians take to bed to celebrate World Laziness Day

Colombians in the city of Itagui took it easy on Sunday to mark the annual 'World Laziness Day'. The words La Perezosa mean
'The Lazy' in Spanish

The daylong celebration of relaxation has been held annually since 1985 in this small city of some 200,000 people in northwestern Colombia.

The idea is to urge overstressed workers to slow down. (The word tranquilo means to 'chill out' in Spanish.)

Itagui is known, rather paradoxically, for its bustling commerce and its thriving industrial park.

'We wanted to draw attention to the importance in any community of free time and leisure activities,' said Carlos Mario Montoya, 65, who started the festival 32 years ago.

Those taking part in the annual fete say laziness gets a bad rap. Far worse, they say, is the wear-and-tear of workaday life, and all the physical and emotional ailments that often go along with it.

'The biggest illness we have today is stress -- the hustle-bustle of everyday life,' said Jhon Jairo Alonso, reclining in his pajamas in the midday sunshine.