Celebrating Hammocks
/We've Got A Hammock Holiday
There's a holiday for hammocks. Yes, indeed.
We were alerted to this important life-detail via a tweet by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate (@BHGRealEstate).
Hammock Day Is Celebrated On July 22
Hammock Day has its own day on the calendar – July 22. It's difficult to pin down the start of this holiday, but, since everything seems to have its own "day" – this was probably inevitable.
Hammock Day obtained some momentum when an article in the Huffington Post highlighted the event in 2014.
Will this holiday take off and become a celebration that is fêted around the world? Maybe not, but in the meantime, who wouldn't enjoy a little swing in a hammock?
The Origins Of Hammocks
Hammocks were developed in Central and South America and are now found in most corners of the Earth.
“Early hammocks were woven out of bark from a hamack tree, and later this material was replaced by sisal fibers because it was more abundant.
One of the reasons that hammocks became popular in Central and South America was their ability to provide safety from disease transmission, insect stings, or animal bites.
By suspending their beds above ground, inhabitants were better protected from snakes, biting ants, and other harmful creatures.”
Hammocks remain popular in Central and South America. El Salvador integrates hammocks into their daily living. Hammocks sway in humble rural homes as well as in prestigious city hotel chains. They're found inside houses, outside in courtyards, on porches, and connected to trees.
An afternoon siesta is meant to be relished in a hammock. One village in El Salvador annually celebrates The Festival of the Hammocks in November where hammocks are produced and sold.
Mayan Hammocks
In this photo by Abraham Razu, a man is hand-weaving a Mayan hammock with brightly colored cotton fibers. These hammocks come from the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. The breezy fabric allows for air to circulate and on hot nights, this provides more cooling than a flat mattress.
To call it a Mayan hammock is a bit of a misnomer. The hammocks didn't originate with the ancient Mayan civilization. It's thought that hammocks arrived in the Yucatán by way of the Caribbean almost two centuries before the Spanish conquest. However, the Mayan people of the Yucatán have been weaving hammocks ever since that time.
Hammocks in Yucatán life are integral to their culture and are a part of their home furnishings. They are used for beds as well as living room furniture and are easily removed at any time to free up precious space in the rooms for other activities.
Mayan hammocks are considered some of the most comfortable and have a tight weave that leaves fewer marks on your skin. They are light, making them easy to carry and store. A hammock weighs between 0.9 and 3 kg, depending on the style and size. Contrast that with carrying around a queen size mattress or a sofa.
How to Get In And Out Of A Hammock
Enjoying time in a hammock is the easy part. Getting in and out of it without hurting or embarrassing yourself provides a small challenge.
If you'd like to master these swinging contraptions with a bit of elegance and panache, here's a video to help you.
Hammocks And Relaxation
If your hammock is outside, relax into the natural world. Feel the nuance of the breeze on your skin, listen to the song of the wind in the trees and the message of the birds.
Maybe you hear the steady rhythm of ocean waves by the sea or perhaps the chirping of cicadads.
If you're comfortably ensconced with a good book in your hammock, let yourself be carried away into another world while nestled in your swaying hammock.
Whether you're ocean-side or lake-side or in your own backyard, hopefully, you'll get to enjoy some relaxing hammock time as we celebrate our Hammock Holiday.
