UNITED STATES: RECORD CROWD OF 25,000 ATTEND ANNUAL "BURNING MAN" FESTIVAL IN NEVADA

Record ID: 337055

  • Title: UNITED STATES: RECORD CROWD OF 25,000 ATTEND ANNUAL "BURNING MAN" FESTIVAL IN NEVADA
  • Date: 3rd September 1999
  • Summary: BLACK ROCK DESERT, NEVADA, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 3, 1999) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS OF BLACK ROCK DESERT, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE GATHERED TO WITNESS THE BURNING MAN (2 SHOTS) 0.08 2. SV WOMEN WITH STICK OF HAND HOLDING UP IT'S MIDDLE FINGER 0.15 3. SV MAN DRESSED IN GREEN OUTFIT 0.20 4. SV SOUNDBITE) (English) REPORTER ASKS AN ALMOST COMPLETEL
  • Embargoed: 18th September 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BLACK ROCK DESERT, NEVADA, UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA2JK8VID65PT5BGG5TOOEUE77
  • Story Text: Its origins somewhat hazy - some say because of the
    drug-taking it inspires, the "Burning Man" festival In Nevada
    attracted a record 25,000 people this year, most of whom
    spent the weekend "being at one with themselves".

    More than 25, 000 people from all over the world
    gathered in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, for the weekend, in
    order to take part in the mysterious "Burning Man"
    festivities.

    Now in it's 13th year, the festival has grown from a 20
    person event to a 25,000 person media frenzy.

    The origins of the festival however, are a mystery,
    although it has always concluded with the burning of a human
    effigy - the "burning man" - made of wood.One popular myth
    is that the Burning Man is a pagan event.Paganism is
    associated with certain forms of pre- or anti-Christian
    worship, including witchcraft, Satanism, ritual orgies, animal
    and human sacrifice and secret gatherings.While Burning Man
    was not founded by pagans, the act of pilgrimage to a remote
    location and the ritual sacrifice of a ceremonial figure has
    real religious resonance for many people.

    Another belief is that Burning Man is a non-musical
    Woodstock of the 1990s.Burning Man intentionally creates a
    non-commercial environment in which spontaneous activity is
    free to happen, much as Woodstock did.But Burning Man is not
    a "youth" event, as was Woodstock.There is a wide and equally
    varied age group with all generations represented.The event
    is also not a concert.Participants come to entertain one another.

    Many people believe, however, that Burning Man is simply a
    hippie festival.Police reported that during the one week
    event, up to 60 people each day required medical treatment for
    drug related problems.Overall, however, they said the
    festival was virtually problem-free and organisers reported
    the effigy-burning on Saturday night was the perfect climax to
    the ultimate celebration of free expression.


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