Woodstock Nation
Encyclopedia
The term Woodstock Nation refers specifically to the attendees of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival
that took place from August 15–17 on the farm of Max Yasgur
near Bethel, New York
. It comes from the title of a book written later that year by Yippie
activist Abbie Hoffman
, describing his experiences at the festival.
More generally, however, the term is used as a catch-all phrase for those individuals of the baby boomer
generation in the United States
who subscribed to the values of the American counterculture
of the 1960s and early 1970s. The term is often interchangeable with hippie
, although the latter term is sometimes used as an oath of derision.
The characteristic traits of members of the Woodstock Nation include, but are not limited to, concern for the environment
, embracing of left-wing political causes and issues allied to a strong sense of political activism, eschewing of traditional gender roles, vegetarianism
, and enthusiasm for the music of the period.
The Woodstock Nation also counts as members individuals from later generational cohorts, as the underground cultural
values and attitudes of 1960s bohemian
communities such as Haight-Ashbury
and Laurel Canyon
have seeped ever more into the mainstream
with the passage of time.
Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
that took place from August 15–17 on the farm of Max Yasgur
Max Yasgur
Max B. Yasgur was an American farmer, best known as the owner of the dairy farm in Bethel, New York at which the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held between August 15 and August 18, 1969....
near Bethel, New York
Bethel, New York
Bethel is a town in Sullivan County, New York, USA. The population has been estimated at 4,532 in 2007.The town received worldwide fame after it became the host of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, which was originally planned for Wallkill, New York, but was relocated to Bethel after Wallkill withdrew.-...
. It comes from the title of a book written later that year by Yippie
Youth International Party
The Youth International Party, whose members were commonly called Yippies, was a radically youth-oriented and countercultural revolutionary offshoot of the free speech and anti-war movements of the 1960s. It was founded on Dec. 31, 1967...
activist Abbie Hoffman
Abbie Hoffman
Abbot Howard "Abbie" Hoffman was a political and social activist who co-founded the Youth International Party ....
, describing his experiences at the festival.
More generally, however, the term is used as a catch-all phrase for those individuals of the baby boomer
Baby boomer
A baby boomer is a person who was born during the demographic Post-World War II baby boom and who grew up during the period between 1946 and 1964. The term "baby boomer" is sometimes used in a cultural context. Therefore, it is impossible to achieve broad consensus of a precise definition, even...
generation in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who subscribed to the values of the American counterculture
Counterculture
Counterculture is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition. Counterculture can also be described as a group whose behavior...
of the 1960s and early 1970s. The term is often interchangeable with hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
, although the latter term is sometimes used as an oath of derision.
The characteristic traits of members of the Woodstock Nation include, but are not limited to, concern for the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
, embracing of left-wing political causes and issues allied to a strong sense of political activism, eschewing of traditional gender roles, vegetarianism
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
, and enthusiasm for the music of the period.
The Woodstock Nation also counts as members individuals from later generational cohorts, as the underground cultural
Counterculture
Counterculture is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition. Counterculture can also be described as a group whose behavior...
values and attitudes of 1960s bohemian
Bohemianism
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
communities such as Haight-Ashbury
Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco, California
Haight-Ashbury is a district of San Francisco, California, named for the intersection of Haight and Ashbury streets. It is also called The Haight and The Upper Haight.-Location:...
and Laurel Canyon
Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, California
Laurel Canyon is a canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It was first developed in the 1910s, and became a part of the city of Los Angeles in 1923 ....
have seeped ever more into the mainstream
Mainstream
Mainstream is, generally, the common current thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct....
with the passage of time.