Defining The Hippie Way Of Life

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.

Hippie Appearances

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 of both genders commonly wore jeans and had long hair. They generally wore sandals or no shoes at all. The women didn't work much makeup, if any, and the men had beards. Most female hippies also did not wear bras. Hippies wore tie-dyed shirts and Native American inspired clothing. Hippies were known for making their own clothes, but when they didn't they were known for buying clothes at second-hand shops or flea markets.

The Hippie Code Of 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 peace and pacifistic ideals. Large groups of hippies participated in non-violent political demonstrations. Hippies went to civil rights marches, performed protests, held anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, and burned draft cards. There were peace demonstration hippies and there were also hippies that preferred anti-authority and street theater demonstrations. The back to land movement, alternative energy, cooperative business enterprises, free press movement, and organic farming were a few political movements that hippies participated in.

Hippies are still around in today's modern world. People and hippies alike carry on protests and anti-war parades. Festivals that originated in the hippie era are still held to this day. The Burning Man and the Starwood Festival are two of the biggest hippie festivals and are still around. Fashions started by hippies in the 1960's can still be seen being worn in this day and age. Hippie lifestyle and culture has been around for generations and continues to live on years later.

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