Hey, Loungewear Lovers!

Robes have been around for a very long time, dating back to ancient times. These long, loose-fitting garments were worn in public. They signified importance in society—not exactly the image you’d be putting out there nowadays if you donned your robe and went out to, say, pick up groceries.

These days, robes pretty much stay reserved to either ceremonial purposes or loungewear for morning and nighttime attire. And while you may one day wear a robe in a ceremony (for graduation perhaps), today we’re going to focus on the luxurious loungewear of bathrobes.

The history of this particular kind of robe begins with the dressing gown in the western world early on in the 18^th Century. It was modeled after the Eastern banyan. These garments were originally intended for men as a sort of home alternative to a heavy outdoor cloak. In the early 1700s, robes were made of fabrics like silk sometimes with gold or silver thread woven in for decorative patterning. However, over time, other fabrics became common for cheaper alternatives products. Cotton robes became commonplace.

And around the 1850s, the market for women started taking advantage of these less expensive robes for morning routines. They wore robes and dressing gowns with undergarments for breakfast, for sewing, and all-around relaxing.

This made way for the bathrobe to become a hot item in the early 1900s. This craze lasted well through half the century. It became standard before very long that each member of the family would have their own robe for leisurely Saturday mornings and trips through the house from the shower to the bedroom.

As Americans adopted a faster-paced living beyond the 1950s, busier schedules allowed for less ‘hangout’ time among families in the home and robes became much less typical. They are, however, still a popular piece of apparel especially at summer camp! Check out some great robes we have available here at Everything Summer Camp from masters of comfort like Candy Pink, and Sovereign Athletics. As always, thanks for reading!

 

- John

Hey, Hammock Enthusiasts!

If you’re attracted to the soft, swaying world suspended inside a cozy hammock, then you’ll be delighted to learn the origin of this awesome invention. Today, we’re doing a deep dive into the history of the hammock. While long outlived by crude beds, hammocks have still been around for a number of centuries, reaching slightly over a thousand years back. So, there’s a good amount of history to lay out…

Archeologists seem positive that hammocks saw their beginning in Central America, likely from the advanced Mayan civilization in the Yucatan Peninsula in modern-day Mexico which looks out on the Gulf of Mexico as well as the Caribbean Sea.

In its earliest days, the hammock was typically woven and fashioned out of tree bark. The tree with the best suited bark was referred to as the Hamack Tree in the Taino language—spoken by the indigenous people of the Yucatan Peninsula. They called these hanging beds ‘hamacas’.

While the Mayan’s may have invented hammocks, they weren’t the only ones to enjoy them. It’s surprising to discover that—even back in those days—trade routes among native tribes were so far-reaching as Central America to Brazil. Hammocks quickly became, not just a popular trading item, but THE thing to sleep on.

A suspended bed made good practical sense too. It prevented contact with the dirty ground and offered protection from snakes, rodents, and other dangerous or annoying animals. In those days, you wouldn’t dream of not owning a hammock. What else would you sleep on?!

Their popularity only increased and the name was solidified across the world when a certain Italian explorer Chris Columbus overheard this hanging bed referred to as a ‘hamaca’. He brought it back to show the Old World and kept the name (though it’s been modified over time).

Nowadays, we typically sleep through the night on our beds. Even so, hammocks haven’t gone away. You’ll see them randomly set up between two trees in a yard or even in the bedroom of a really cool kid.

Hammocks are magical. So, if your yard is blessed with one—go appreciate it! If not, go make friends with someone who owns one or get one for yourself! And, as always, thanks for reading!

 

- John

Hey, Freedom Lovers!

Not in line with the philosophy of Napoleon Bonaparte, I certainly think that freedom is for everybody. Martin Luther King Jr. believed it too and had to confront a country that had taken freedom away from its own citizens. We all know how he worked through nonviolence to combat racist and segregating laws. Learn a few more facts about Martin Luther King Jr. in celebration of his birthday!

MICHAEL Luther King?!

Yeah, not a lot of people know that Martin Luther King Jr. wasn’t named after his father’s original name. King Senior was born Michael King and changed his name after the death of his father-in-law (a pastor) to a historical religious leader from Germany named Martin Luther and followed in the ministry for his career. He then passed his new name to his firstborn son: Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin in the Middle

Born after his older sister and followed by his younger brother, Martin Luther King Jr. was the middle child in his family. Unlike either of his siblings, however, Martin’s birthday is the only one to be celebrated as a national holiday—in fact, he’s the only other American whose birthday is a national holiday aside from our founding father, George Washington.

Bad Boy Junior

Mr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested 30 times in his day. You have to understand, kids—he wasn’t arrested for being a criminal. He was arrested for nonviolently fighting against the laws of segregation that were racist and unreasonable. The words of St. Augustine put it best: “An unjust law is no law at all.”

A renowned speaker and an incredible influence to raise awareness to the injustice of the world we were living in just a little over 55 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. helped us so we can all appreciate our birthright of equality. Enjoy your birthright today and, as always, thanks for reading!

 

- John

Hey, French Toast Fanatics!

You don’t have to be French in order to love this genius invention of sweet breakfast options. This eggy bread is celebrated across the country today as it’s National French Toast Day! Whip up some batter and heat up the fry pan! I’m sure you all know how delicious and exciting French Toast is, but here are some things you may not have known about this soppy, sweet creation.  

Has this Bread Gone Bad?

Yes. In France, this bread is known as ‘pain perdu’ which translates to ‘lost bread’. Traditionally made from stale bread, French Toast was originally made as a means of making stale bread palatable so it didn’t go to waste. Soaking it in a milky, eggy batter, frying it up, and serving it drenched in syrup with assorted berries and nuts has always done the trick!

Not French?

Yes, like so many things, the title does not necessarily indicate the origin. French toast was actually around for even longer than France was a country. We’re not sure exactly where French Toast was first made, but we do know that before the recipe we know as French Toast was called Spanish Toast as well as German Toast before it got its French name.

Old Toast!

It’s true that no one knows exactly who invented French Toast or just quite where it came from, but mention of this recipe has been traced back all the way to the 4^th Century,  more than 1700 years ago in ancient Roman records!

Pour syrup over it. Douse it in powdered sugar. Melt butter on top. Sprinkle berries and walnut pieces over it. However you best like to eat your French Toast, do it up right on a day that’s made just for the celebration of this awesome bread-saving dish! Happy French Toast Day to everyone and, as always, thanks for reading!

 

- John  

Hey, all you Gratified Feasters!

Thanksgiving is here again—a fantastic day we all enjoy in the modern day. Filled with televised parades, traditional football games, and a dinner that’s so good, people fast all day to make sure they have enough room when they finally sit down to eat! But these traditions have been nearly 400 years in the making! Things were quite different back then. Check out some of the things that came before the first Thanksgiving feast.

East! No—West!

Pilgrims first traveled east when they were leaving their home for religious freedom. Many traveled to Sweden in the first decade of the 17^th Century. By the 1620’s, however, they were looking elsewhere to settle and decided on traversing the huge Atlantic Ocean.

Good Eats

It’s no wonder that the Pilgrims feasted when they finally succeeded in yielding crops from the land as the Natives had taught them! After all, it had been a long trip to the New World with not much variety in their diet. They mostly ate a hard biscuit called hardtack, salt pork, dried meats (such as cow tongue), pickled food, and oatmeal. That’s about it.

Pop? Corn?

Contrary to common belief, the Natives never did introduce the Pilgrims to popcorn. The Natives were responsible for showing the newcomers how to yield crops of corn, but not the popcorn variety. Not to mention, it wasn’t even known as corn when the Pilgrims first arrived. The word ‘corn’ refers to a particular region’s highest yielding crop. In England, ‘corn’ refers to barley. It took a while before we dubbed this cobbed vegetable corn.

Enjoy the foods you’ve come to know and love when you sit down to the spread at your Thanksgiving table and ring in the holiday season like they have for hundreds of years! Happy Thanksgiving to all of our camp families out there and, as always, I am thankful for my readers!

 

- John