Search:

Home | Society


All You Ever Wanted To Know About Hippies

By: Chris Channing

The hippie movement was started in the 1960's timeframe. Hippie derived from the terms hipster and hip. Hipster first referred to some beatniks who moved into the Haight-Ashbury region of San Francisco. They set up their own communities, indulged in the sexual revolution, listened to primarily psychedelic rock, and used drugs to expand their mind and conscious.

Hippie Appearances

Hippies saw choosing their own ways and looking for new meanings of life as a way of freeing themselves from society's restrictions. Hippies saw the way the dress as a form of independent expression and a way to break from the societal norms. Hippies considered the way they dressed as a symbol of respect for individual rights, their style of dress also made it easier to identify each other.

Hippies both of the male and female gender generally wore jeans and had long hair. Both genders also primarily wore sandals or no shoes at all. The men were often bearded, and the women wore little, if any, makeup and did not wear bras. Hippies made most of their clothes such as tie-dyed shirts. Clothing they did not make themselves they normally bought from flea markets and second-hand shops. Hippies were also known for wearing beaded necklaces, headbands, and Native American jewelry.

Common Hippie Transportation

Hippies generally traveled in school busses, VW busses, or they would just hitchhike. Their busses were normally repainted with psychedelic graphics. The hippies liked the busses because it allowed them and large groups of their friends to travel together. The Volkswagen symbol on the VW busses were often changed into peace symbols by hippies. The hippies that hitchhiked liked it because it was a good way to meet new people, it was environmentally friendly, and it was economical.

Hippies took part in doing drugs and hallucinogens. The thought that by doing drugs they would enhance their spirit and expand their mind. Cannabis, or marijuana, was the most commonly used drug by the hippies. Hippies also took hallucinogens like LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline. Opiates and amphetamines were other drugs taken by hippies, but even users of them began to scorn them because they saw them as addictive and harmful.

Hippies believed in pacifistic ideals and peace. Groups of hippies participated in non-violent political demonstrations. Hippies performed protests, held anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, took part in civil rights marches, and burned draft cards. Some hippies were known for their peace demonstrations while others preferred anti-authority and street theater demonstrations. Hippies took part in political movements such as the free press movement, back to land movement, alternative energy, cooperative business enterprises, and organic farming.

Today there are still a large number of hippies. Protests and anti-war parades are still held by hippies and other people. Hippies still attend and hold festivals, some which have been around since the first hippies originated. The Starwood Festival and the Burning Man festival are two major festivals that have been held since the 1960's and still go on today. Hippie fashion from the 1960's is still being used today. Music created by and listened to by hippies is still popular in today's society. The lifestyle of the hippies is still around to this day and is likely to continue for sometime.

Article Source: http://www.articlemanual.com

Find out more on Woodstock Videos and trance music.



Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Society Articles Via RSS!

Powered by Article Dashboard