A culture born from freedom

Ever since I can remember everyone wanted to belong somewhere. Find their path to rule one’s life which was usually destined by their parents. This is the moment where subcultures came in. They allowed one to cease the insufferable loneliness felt by being misunderstood and, consequently, alienated. Subculture is the way of living, distinct from the prevalent customs followed by society. It is a group of individuals who believe in the same principles. Throughout the years, subcultures played a pivotal role in bringing people together for common cause. You can observe thousands of such groups, like punks, goths, emos, etc. One of them struck me the most. It was a hippie one. 

In the 70s, everyone could spot people in colourful, mismatched clothes with long hair.

Members of the Hog Farm Commune Celebrate the Fourth of July, 1968, Aboard Their Bus, the Road Hog." Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., [Accessed 7 Jun. 2026].

Hippies were a subculture, mainly affiliated with the counterculture of the 60s-70s. They emerged in the United States by strongly opposing the upsurge of materialism as well as the ongoing Vietnam War. “Flower Children” promoted a peaceful, full of love way of living, manifesting personal freedom, environmentalism, and holistic approach. They were known for their easy-going attitude and controversy. Hippies rejected traditional social expectations, questioning authority, consumerism, and rigid social norms. Their definitive slogan was “make love, not war”, advocating for harmony, nonviolence, and free love over the Vietnam War era.

HISTORY.com Editors. “Woodstock.” HISTORY, A&E Television Networks, 9 Mar. 2018, "Members of the Hog Farm Commune Celebrate the Fourth of July, 1968, Aboard Their Bus, the Road Hog." Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.,[Accessed 7 Jun. 2026].

Music became one of their strongest tools of expression. Everyone knows The Beatles who were a staple of hippie music. “All You Need is Love” became an unofficial anthem of this generation of baby boomers. The spirit of hippie culture reached its climax during large music ventures, the most popular being the Woodstock festival in 1969 in Bethel, New York. “Three Days of Peace and Music” was the primary slogan of the event which became one of the most iconic ones. Not only did countless numbers of young people gather for music, but they also came to celebrate freedom and harmony.

Hippies often lived in communes, sharing food, work being the fundamental principle of their routine. They explored alternative lifestyles focused on cooperation rather than competition. Aspects like meditation, Eastern philosophy, vegetarian diets, and respect for nature became an important part of everyday life. 

Pinterest. (2019). Pin on Hippy. [online] Available at: https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/658299670549125954/ [Accessed 7 Jun. 2026].

In the 1970s, the hippie movement slowly began to decline. The combination of internal disagreements, external pressures, commercialization, and natural maturation of the members weakened its influence. Another nail in the coffin was the rise of drug abuse, violence, and crime. Yet, the disappearance of the movement did not mean the disappearance of the main ideas of this culture. Nowadays, many concepts once considered radical, such as environmental activism, equality movements, mindfulness practices, and festival culture, carry clear traces of hippie philosophy. The movement proved that young people could challenge social norms and inspire meaningful change. 

Hippie culture was far more than colourful clothing or music festivals. It was a search for identity, belonging, and compassion in a rapidly changing world. In many ways, the same need still does not stop to cease to exist today. People continue to look for communities where they can feel understood and seen, sharing the same values. Perhaps this is the reason why the story of hippie culture remains relevant. It reminds us that sometimes the greatest rebellion is choosing peace, empathy, and authenticity in a world that often encourages conformity.

love_elizabeth (2023). 70s woodstock aesthetic | Hippies 60s aesthetic, 60s woodstock aesthetic, Hippie wedding. [online] Pinterest. Available at: https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/765400899198536657/ [Accessed 7 Jun. 2026].

Article design: Nadia Michalik

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Bibliography

• Britannica (2017). Hippie | History, Lifestyle, & Beliefs. In: Encyclopaedia Britannica. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/hippie [Accessed 7 May 2026].

• Street, J. (2019). Hippies - Museum of Youth Culture. [online] www.museumofyouthculture.com. Available at: https://www.museumofyouthculture.com/hippies/ [Accessed 7 May 2026].

• Cambridge Dictionary (2019). SUBCULTURE | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary. [online] Cambridge.org. Available at: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/subculture [Accessed 7 May 2026].

Photos:

• Members of the Hog Farm Commune Celebrate the Fourth of July, 1968, Aboard Their Bus, the Road Hog." Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., [Accessed 7 Jun. 2026].

• HISTORY.com Editors. “Woodstock.” HISTORY, A&E Television Networks, 9 Mar. 2018, "Members of the Hog Farm Commune Celebrate the Fourth of July, 1968, Aboard Their Bus, the Road Hog." Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.,[Accessed 7 Jun. 2026].

• Pinterest. (2019). Pin on Hippy. [online] Available at: https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/658299670549125954/ [Accessed 7 Jun. 2026].

• love_elizabeth (2023). 70s woodstock aesthetic | Hippies 60s aesthetic, 60s woodstock aesthetic, Hippie wedding. [online] Pinterest. Available at: https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/765400899198536657/ [Accessed 7 Jun. 2026].