Search:

All You Ever Wanted To Know About Hippies

Hippies originated in the United States around the 1960's. The term hippie is derived from hipster, and originally referred to beatniks moving into the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. Hippies created their own communities, used drugs to expand their conscious, took part in the sexual revolution, and primarily listened to psychedelic rock music.

The Hippie Apperance

Hippies felt that by choosing their own ways and finding new meanings to life they were freeing themselves from the restrictions of society. One form of independent expression was dressing differently from the societal norms. Hippies saw the way they dressed as a symbol of respect for individual rights, and it made it easier for them to identify each other.

Hippies, both male and female, were known to wear jeans and have long hair. Hippies generally went around barefoot or wore sandals. Most men had beards and the women didn't wear bras or much makeup, if any. Hippies liked to wear colorful clothing like tie-dyed shirts; they also liked Native American inspired clothing. Hippies preferred to buy their clothes from flea markets and second-hand shops, but some hippies made their own clothes.

Transportation

Hippies primarily traveled by hitchhiking and driving school busses or VW busses. They were known for painting their busses with psychedelic art. Hippies liked to travel in busses because they could take a lot of their friends with them when they traveled. A lot of hippies changed the Volkswagen symbol on VW busses to peace symbols. Some hippies preferred hitchhiking because they saw it as a way to meet new people, plus it was environmentally friendly, and economical.

Hippies were fond of doing drugs. They felt that it allowed a person to enhance their spiritual being. The most common drug used by hippies was cannabis, or marijuana. Eventually hippies started adding hallucinogens such as LSD, mescaline, and psilocybin to the drugs they did. Hippies even took part in doing amphetamines and opiates. Amphetamines and opiates were often scorned even by those that used them because they felt that they were harmful and addictive.

Hippies were generally pacifists who believed solely in peace. Lots of hippies took part in non-violent political demonstrations. Their non-violent political demonstrations included civil rights marches, draft card burning, protests, and anti-Vietnam War demonstrations. Some hippies were involved in peace demonstrations while others were more active in anti-authority and street theater demonstrations. Political movements carried out by hippies include the back to land movement, alternative energy, free press movement, 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.a1-articledirectory.com

Find out more on Hippy Lifestyle and hippy news.

Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated