Thursday, August 07, 2008 The Hippie Market By Jinggoy Salvador
HIPPIE, derived from "hipster" that was a description for beatniks, those who inherited the counter-cultural values of the Beat Generation. They created their own communities, listened to psychedelic rock, embraced the sexual revolution, and used cannabis and LSD to explore alternative states of consciousness.
Picture the Woodstock Festival of the 1960s, that's the best description of the hippie culture. If you remember then you must be a grandparent now. No pun intended.
Hippie fashions and values had a major influence on culture-popular music, television, film, literature, and the arts- and many of these have been assimilated by the mainstream.
They rejected established institutions, criticized middle class values, opposed nuclear weapons and the Vietnam War; Eastern philosophy was cool; go vegetarian and eco-friendly; alternative arts, street theatre, folk music, and psychedelic rock as a part of their lifestyle and as expressions, protest and vision of the world and life.
Fashion was androgenous and jeans were the item of clothing, shirts were brightly colored, bell-bottom pants, vests, tie-dyed, peasant blouses, and long, full skirts.
Flea market and second-hand stores was the way to shop. Hair worn long. Footwear was sandals or nothing. Men -- beards and women -- no makeup. Native American jewelry, head scarves, headbands and long beaded necklaces to accessorize. Hippies are travelers, entire families traveled together in their trucks and buses.
They want to see the world. And they are in Ibiza. Just like any other hippie who shares a universal lifestyle, they work their crafts during the week, and don costumes for weekend performances and attend to their booths where handmade goods are sold.
Ibiza is renowned for the Hippy Markets that are spread across the Island. The most popular and well-loved is the one in Las Dalias, near San Carlos. It is the star event in Las Dalias.
On Saturday, the classic "hippy market" sets up 200 stalls that contain everything from arts and crafts, made locally to the most exotic wares brought from the far reaches of the globe.
Food and beverage booths including a beautiful traditional Ibizan Restaurant with a "World Cooking" menu and an authentic Moroccan Tea-tent. In the middle of a scorching sunny day, this is the place to chill.
The hippie activity doesn't end there. Monday nights bring out a smaller, but much more relaxed, night market. It gives the visitor a chance to shop under the stars in a beautifully illuminated setting that includes an acoustic stage. To complete the experience, live acts, concerts occur and sometimes graced by well-known rock stars. Restaurants set up outdoors and go exotic under the vines of Ibizan grapes!
What I got from the Saturday Hippie Market? Mmmm loads of photos and even better, an immeasurable good vibe... Time to party!
