The Hippie Era Cordially Explained

Posted by Chris Channing

May 19, 2008

by Chris Channing

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 wanted to free themselves from the restrictions of society; by doing so they would choose their own ways and try to find new meanings to life. Hippies dressed differently from societal norms as an expression of independence. The way hippies dressed made it easy for them to recognize one another and their clothing was a symbol of respect for individual rights.

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 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 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.

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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