July 22nd, Hammock Day

Hey Hammock Lovers!

It has been quite some time I have not been sending out updates! But hey!
Guess what? The 22nd of July is around the corner! Do you know that that
means? HAMMOCK DAY!

It's time to slow down and relax. During the dog days of summer there
is no place better to slow down and relax ,than on a hammock!

Hammock day is appropriately celebrated right in the middle of the Dog Days
of summer, July 3rd through August 11th.

People celebrate Hammock Day by spending as much time relaxing on it as
possible. Its not a day for work, even cutting the lawn is forbidden on
this day!

The history of Hammock Day is largely unknown. Maybe the founder was to
busy napping in the hammock!?!

What are some questions that you have about hammocks that I can answer? I
want to know what you think! Shoot me an e-mail and give me ideas so I can
make my next wild hammock adventure too!

Check out my last video I did, How to Wash your Hammock, if you have not
seen it yet!

Have a great summer and don't forget to enjoy your hammock. Lie in your hammock as if it was your last time!

Your friend from Brazil,

Denis

Choosing the Right Hammock for you!

How do you know what is the right hammock for you? Well, I wondered too! I came across this piece of Information I had to share with you!

There are many varieties of hammocks in the universe today. Each has its own unique traits and its own strength:

Rope Hammocks are the traditional North American style hammocks that have the wooden spreader bars on each end. These offer classic styling and have superior resistance to the elements.

Mayan Hammocks: Known for their comfort, these are hand woven using traditional techniques that have been handed down through generations. These hammocks feature a diamond weave pattern that creates a soothing cocoon effect as its wraps around the user.

Brazilian Hammocks: Made from 100 percent cotton, these offer an unmatched blend of comfort and durability. Soft to the touch, these hammocks are used by many Brazilian families as bedding in their home.

Nicaraguan Hammocks: Hand woven by artisans, these hammocks have beautiful patterns. They are made of cotton and have a tighter weave than the Mayan. They're often used as comfortable beds.

Quilted Hammocks: Made of weather resistant fabric, these colorful hammocks are made with comfort-inducing material that makes them ideal for any outdoor setting. These weather-resistant hammocks are especially easy to clean.

Poolside Hammocks: Created to be enjoyed on the deck of a pool or by the lake. These hammocks are fast drying and comfortable.

Camping Hammocks: Made of lightweight, durable nylon, these hammocks take up little space in the trunk or a backpack. They're sturdy and reliable.

http://www.hammockuniverse.com/pages/hammock-articles

How to wash your Hammock!

Have you ever had the hassle of washing your hammock and it gets all tangled up and burdensome to undo the mess of tangles? Problem solved! Check out the video and enjoy a simple trick that Denis does every single time he washes his hammock!

How to hang your Hammock in a Short Space!

Here in this video Denis shows a crazy secret he uses all the time to hang a Brazilian hammock up a little higher! You can't miss this one as he shows you step by step! Amazing!

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Rope vs. Tree Straps

This video was done in response to the former video that I did. Rope vs. Tree Straps? What is better? Well I guess they are both effective but one is simple, cheap and accessible to all, Tree Straps are fancy. Learn of a dirty little secret on how to hang a hammock with a rope! I am learning as I go making these videos. Sorry, my intention was not to offend anyone in the last video. Hopefully this will be better!

BRAZILIAN Style - Storing and Tying up Hammocks!

Here is a Video I did on how the Brazilians tie up their hammock and roll it away! Also a short video on the history of Hammocks!

Hammock Forums

I was out looking for a place to post my video and came across this amazing Hammock Forum! I just couldn't resist sharing it with you! Maybe you will enjoy it to! Check it out!

If you are looking for a place to discuss hammocks, hammock gear and hammock accessories to use for hammock camping, that is the right place.

The discussions include such things as Do It Yourself projects on how to make hammock stands (I don't think hammock stands are necessary but in some cases maybe to some people they are!), home made hammocks, accessory gear for hammocks and much more.

Go ahead and join the fun. Once you have spent time in a hammock you will never go back to tent camping.
Until the next time!

Rocking History of Hammocks

The Maya and other indigenous peoples crafted hammocks out of tree bark or plant fibers. Suspended beds prevented contact with the dirty ground and offered protection from snakes, rodents and other poisonous or simply pesky creatures.

Christopher Columbus was introduced to the hamaca (hammock) during his travels at the end of the 15th Century by the Taino Indians, a Haitian tribe. It has been always thought that Columbus and his men became the first Europeans to glimpse—and perhaps experience—the hammock when they noticed their widespread use in the Bahamas. They brought several examples of the woven sleeping nets back to Spain. Hammocks actually dates back more than 1,000 years ago to Central America, far before Columbus was alive.

Spanish colonists noted the use of the hammock by Native Americans, particularly in the West Indies, at the time of the Spanish conquest. The word comes from a Taíno culture Arawakan word (Haiti) meaning "fish net".

Pero de Magalhães Gandavo, the Portuguese-born chronicler of colonial Brazilian history, wrote in 1570, “Most of the beds in Brazil are hammocks, hung in the house from two cords. This custom they took from the Indians of the land.”

In the mid-16th century, the English and Spanish navies had adopted hammocks as their primary on-deck sleeping apparatuses. It provided more comfortable sleep than a bunk or a berth while at sea since the sleeper always stays well balanced, irrespective on the motion of the vessel. Prior to the adoption of naval hammocks, sailors would often be injured or even killed as they fell off their berths or rolled on the decks on heavy seas. The sides of traditional canvas naval hammocks wrap around the sleeper like a cocoon, making an inadvertent fall virtually impossible.

In the late 19th century, the British prison system attempted to replace cots with hammocks, attaching them to the walls or bars of jail cells with large brass hooks and rings. This arrangement saved space and cut costs but only lasted until inmates discovered the hardware’s value as weapons.

In the United States, meanwhile, by the turn of the century hammocks had caught on both as a leisure item for wealthy families and as a cheap, practical sleeping solution for frontier farmers. The first known mass producer of hammocks opened in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, in 1889. Less than two decades later, the suspended beds became an essential part of army physician William Gorgas’ plan to eradicate yellow fever during the construction of the Panama Canal. Hammocks could easily be enclosed in mosquito netting and also kept sleepers off the wet, insect-ridden ground.

A new study conducted by a team of Swiss researchers and published in the June issue of “Current Biology” has offered a scientific explanation for the longstanding global hammock craze. The team found that a swinging motion synchronizes brain waves, allowing people to doze off faster and attain a deeper state of sleep. Their results also support the ancient—and still very much alive—tradition of rocking children to sleep.

Brazilian hammocks are made from cotton fabric and usually more durable than the string varieties. While Mayan and Nicaraguan hammocks are considered by some to have the potential to be more comfortable, the Brazilian hammock’s comfort is less dependent on its construction and therefore less likely to vary as highly from manufacturer to manufacturer.

In "The Discovery of America," a 1630 engraving by Theodor Galle, Amerigo Vespucci awakens a sleeping America, represented by a person on a hammock. This image is a powerful visualization of the ideology of colonialism. It can also be seen to echo ideas of primitiveness in Western Culture.

Free Brazilian Coffee and a pair of Flip Flops. Havaianas!

In this short video, Denis Bailey pulls off more amazing clips by taking a spin around town of Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brazil. You can't miss this video as he rides up and down the streets. The video has a surprise for those and makes a deal with you, the 1st 50th person to sign up for newsletter updates will get Brazilian coffee and the first 100th person who signs up will get a pair of the famous flip flops from Brazil, Havaianas. He will ship them to any where in the world!

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Unbelievable Hammock Knot!!

You can't miss this short video showing an incredibly unbelievable hammock knot that is by far the most simplest that I have ever seen! Not only used for hammocks but pulling stuck vehicles! You can't miss this tip done by Jim Schroeder!