No one is sure who first invented the hammock or how was transported, but by the time Cortes reached modern day Mexico, hammocks were abundant. In the Mayan Civilization Hammocks was a part of their daily life. The Mayan or Yucatan Hammock was style that blended the practical make up of the Caribbean or Taino style, with the beauty and artistry of the Mayan culture. This artistry has been passed down where today the Mayan Hammock still flourishes. Merida, Mexico is located on the Yucatan Peninsula. Merida is the hammock capital of Mexico and where over 60% which is a major area for the modern production of hammocks. This city is located in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico where the typical family still lives in homes constructed of thatched huts. The people of this area sleep in hammocks instead of a traditional bed for several reasons. First, hammocks are extremely easy to store, which in turn provides more floor space, and second, hammocks provide excellent ventilation for sleeping on hot summer nights. Hammocks were very practical for the weather conditions of the Yucatan Peninsula. The health and safety factors weighed heavily on the fact that the conquering Spaniards soon adopted them as the standard sleeping practice during the early Spanish Colonial Period. Even the Viceroy had a hammock on his hacienda. The first Yucatan hammocks were woven from Henequen fiber, which comes from a cactus that grows in Yucatan. Soon, the Spanish introduced cotton and that became the most popular hammock fiber. Once this was established, a booming artisanship took off that survived the centuries of war, revolutions and turmoil. Hammocks became synonymous with the Yucatan and thus this hammock industry was born. Today hammock manufacturing is the main source of income for a majority of families on the Yucatan Peninsula, second only to tourism. It is a trade. Learned at a young age and passed down through the generations. Men and women work side by side in this cottage industry, manufacturing an amazing array of colorful and beautiful hammocks. The Mayan trademark is the brilliant colors as well as the unique designs that are constantly being created. The Mayan hammock has become a symbol of the region and carries the name of the ancient civilization proudly. The main focus of a Mayan hammock is the intertwined, sprang-woven pattern that is the trademark of a Yucatan hammock. Each hammock is handmade and therefore each hammock bears the distinct finger print of the artisan. No two hammocks are exactly a like, each has its different quirks that makes it special. Sprang Weaving is one of civilizations oldest weaving methods. It is a simple method of inter-locking parallel cords to produce a strong, flat fabric that is fixed in one dimension and expansive in the other dimension. The process does not use a loom and can be done between any vertical posts or small trees. It is labor intensive with no machinery. The benefit of the sprang weave style, which is also the Nicaraguan / Central American style hammock, is that it allows the hammock to contour to the body. The hammocks do not put pressure on the body's pressure points. Instead, weight is evenly distributed, giving the user a relaxing sensation. The Mayan Hammock is now made primarily with synthetic fibers, making the hammock stronger and more durable. Cotton, while more comfortable, will not last in any harsh climate if the hammock is used outdoors. So when traveling in the Yucatan, swing by Merida and take a moment to check out the hammocks, and think a little about their history. The Mayan hammocks are one of the last ties we have to that ancient civilization and one of it gifts to mankind. |
|
| • Economic & Beautiful Sprang-Weave Hammocks • From Yucatan, Mexico • 6 Bright, Festive Colors • 4 Sizes • Price Range $33 - $79 • |
|