The Relaxing History Of Hammocks

When you think of relaxation, you probably think of a hammock. When we talk about hammocks, we think of relaxing on the beach or deck, kicked back with a book and a cold drink or taking a nap in the sun on a beautiful day. Hammocks are synonymous with relaxation, and as they have become more and more comfortable and affordable, they’re becoming a more common deck and yard accessory. These days, relaxation time is hard won, and we’re eager to use our hammocks. But the history of hammocks is little known.

Many people credit Christopher Columbus with the discovery of the hammock, but hammocks have probably been used since around 1,000 A.D. No one knows exactly where and how it was invented, but there is a lot of speculation that the Mayans developed the hammock. The other major theory is that the hammock comes from Haiti.

Wherever it originated, the hammock quickly spread through the Americas, and was used widely by native peoples of both North and South America. For people who migrated in search of game and warmer weather, the hammock was the perfect bed, because it could be taken down, transported and set back up very easily. These hammocks were usually made of natural fibers or animal hides.

From there, the hammock spread to use at sea, where it was more convenient, easier to maintain and more comfortable for life on board ship than a traditional bed. And hammocks continued to be used for convenience and ease of setup for many years.

Now, hammocks are more comfortable than ever, and are widely used as relaxing areas, rather than as a “working” bed, which they were for many centuries. But the basics of hammocks remain the same—they’re still cloth or rope beds suspended at either end.

Most hammocks sold today are canvas, treated to make them weatherproof. Brazilian hammocks, hand-woven from cotton fibers, are also very popular, but most hammocks for relaxation are fabric.

Hammocks of the past were almost always made without rods at the end, so that the hammock folded up around the body like a sack. Most consumer hammocks now have rods to spread the fabric and make the hammock more like a bed than an old-style hammock. Nowadays, even hammock chairs are popular, swinging from the ceiling or deck roof and allowing people to sit and relax, rather than lying in a traditional hammock.

If you’re interested in having a hammock on your deck or in your home, you have a lot of choices in terms of types of fabric and stands, and you will find that shopping for a hammock is a lot of fun. But you will have even more fun once you get your hammock set up and start spending time each day or week just relaxing in the hammock and letting go of your stress and worries. Very few things feel as good or make you feel as relaxed as lying in a hammock sipping iced tea, reading or napping. Hammocks are popular because they’re so incredibly comfortable.