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National Hammock Day

Fun · Seasonal · July 22

A day for the hammock: a hanging bed of fabric or rope, strung between two supports, and the slow art of doing very little in one.

National Hammock Day falls on Thursday, July 22, 2027. That is 268 days away.

A hammock is a bed that hangs. It is a sheet of fabric or a net of rope, gathered at each end and tied between two trees, two posts or a stand. Lie down and it wraps around you, swaying a little when you shift.

Getting in takes a moment of trust. Sit in the middle first, then swing your legs up. Lying slightly diagonal across a gathered hammock tends to flatten it out, so your back stays straighter and the fabric stops folding over your face. Spreader-bar hammocks, the kind with wooden rods at each end, stay open and flat but can tip if you climb in carelessly.

The materials change the feel. Woven cotton is soft and breathable. Rope nets let summer air through and leave a faint grid pattern on your arms. Lightweight nylon versions pack down small enough for campers to carry into the woods, where people hang them with wide straps that are gentler on tree bark than thin cord.

Most people mark the day simply by using one: an afternoon in the backyard shade, a nap on a porch, a paperback held overhead until it starts to feel heavy. The rocking is the whole point. A light push off the ground with one foot keeps it going, and after a while the push gets lazier and the swing slows down on its own.

Ways to celebrate

• Hang a hammock in the shade and read until you doze off.
• Try lying diagonally to find the flattest position.
• Use wide tree straps so the bark stays unharmed.
• Take an outdoor nap at a park that allows hammocks.
• Share a photo of your favorite hanging spot with friends.

Dates

All national days on July 22

Also on July 22

• National Mango Day
• Pi Approximation Day
• National Penuche Fudge Day
• Spoonerism Day
• National Ratcatcher's Day

Categories: Fun daysSeasonal days