Why do people bring flags to Glastonbury and some other UK festivals?

The thread title is my question. I don't get it. Is it nationalism? (I love music because it breaks down any thought of borders). Is it desire to be noticed ('that was me holding up the huge flag that blocked the view of 40,000 people behind me').
Is it just tradition?

Just wondering, as I watch Glastonbury on Palladia.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-09-04 21:49 by bv.

In my day, it was so people could find their friends in a huge crowd. Dunno about now.

Good question.

And a better question, why do the fests allow them?

Heck, most pro sports teams dont even allow umbrellas when it
is raining because they block the view of the people behind them.

And umbrellas are functional... versus... what do those flags do?

Those flags on very long poles (or whatever they're called) presumably don't block people's view, unless they're 15 feet tall, though.

Always useful for spearing those annoying people who get on each other's shoulders! ><

Glastonbury addressed that a couple of years back:



The topic of whether flags should be banned from in front of the Pyramid Stage at the Festival seems to have been cropping up a bit recently. Our gut feeling here at Festival HQ is that they shouldn't be banned, as we think they add to the magic of a big Pyramid stage performance (as for Bruce Springsteen, above).

They also conducted a poll, with 55% voting in favor of flags.

[www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk]

to fly there colors

The flags, poles are a disaster waiting to happen. Once we see a skewered fan from a flag pole we'll see the end of them

....so their probationary officer knows where they are in the crowd ....



ROCKMAN

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Rockman
....so their probationary officer knows where they are in the crowd ....

Doesn't have to be a person on probation... could just be a reveler who causes an accident..

Maybe an old English tradition to show from which clan you are

__________________________

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TheGreek
to fly there colors

Where?

I know fans of U2 use to wave a lot of flags. I saw the Amnesty International's Conspiracy of Hope tour in 1986 at the Cow Palace near San Francisco. When U2 came on at the end, it seemed like a hundred flags came out on the floor. I had seats behind the stage and the flags amazed me at the time. It did not hurt my view, so it was cool at the time.

I do love flags. The Invaldes(army museum in Paris) has a great display of the banners used in 'campaigns'. Pretty impressive. I collect little flags when on vacation; probably have 30.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-09-04 02:48 by dougie.

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dougie
I know fans of U2 use to wave a lot of flags. I saw the Amnesty International's Conspiracy of Hope tour in 1986 at the Cow Palace near San Francisco. When U2 came on at the end, it seemed like a hundred flags came out on the floor. I had seats behind the stage and the flags amazed me at the time. It did not hurt my view, so it was cool at the time.

Great show! So many good artists...got outta hand when U2 hit the stage. We were in row 8 right down front...they played "Something Else" I think which wound up the crowd slightly, but the second song was "Pride" wasn't it? Those first few notes caused one of the scariest surges towards the stage I've ever been a part of...yikes...lost all control of moving forward, lost touch of my friends, and then the folding chairs started flying and hitting a few people in the head and face...comparatively, you had better ( or safer ) seats!

Still good memories in hindsight though...

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steverogan
The flags, poles are a disaster waiting to happen. Once we see a skewered fan from a flag pole we'll see the end of them

We should bring them to Stones shows so we can sacrifice the heretics who use Keith's two songs as a piss-break.

'Gaz The Impaler' has a nice ring to it, you have to admit.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-09-04 03:27 by Gazza.

.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-03-28 17:14 by camper88.

I think it's cool. I say, let the flags fly proudly!

The pole, ... or the rod, needs to be strechted 'n flexed, ....
out of of the house, in the open air!
no matter what laundry you're flying on the top end! ...Baby....Grrrr!

Well, you know what they say...
What Harvey says anyway...
Harvey is a flagpole sitta... and he says...

_{Fingertips have memories
Mine can't forget the curves of your body
And when I feel a bit naughty}
I run it up the flagpole and see who salutes _{but no one ever does
I'm not sick but I'm not well And I'm so hot cause I'm in hell}





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-09-04 06:50 by Max'sKansasCity.

Telescoptic poles & unique flags are used by most to 'mark' your tent, so you can locate it at the end of the evening.

They are pretty irritating on the broadcasts.

Lots of Confederate flags waving when Lynyrd Skynyrd played the 1976 Knebworth festival.

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Aquamarine
Those flags on very long poles (or whatever they're called) presumably don't block people's view, unless they're 15 feet tall, though.

They don't block the view of the floor of the stage, where the musician are (eventhough I can imagine that even a pole can be pretty annoying, if you have it in your view all the time), but they surely block the view of the screens and everything above. I have seen several Glastonbury videos and I found the flags extremely annoying even for me in front of the TV and I always thought I wouldn not want to be there.

Think I'd be pissed off if I was stuck behind someone whose flag was obstructing my view.

Going to an NFL game this Sunday and won't be able to bring anything in that can't fit in a small, clear plastic bag. Then again, NFL stands for No Fun League.

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camper88

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Gazza

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steverogan
The flags, poles are a disaster waiting to happen. Once we see a skewered fan from a flag pole we'll see the end of them

We should bring them to Stones shows so we can sacrifice the heretics who use Keith's two songs as a piss-break.

'Gaz The Impaler' has a nice ring to it, you have to admit.

Any relation to the other festival attendee, Gaz The Inhaler?

nice

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buffalo7478
Think I'd be pissed off if I was stuck behind someone whose flag was obstructing my view.

Going to an NFL game this Sunday and won't be able to bring anything in that can't fit in a small, clear plastic bag. Then again, NFL stands for No Fun League.

As long as people can bring in their weed, there wont be mass protests.

Speaking of Glastonbury ... is there always a phoenix atop the Pyramid stage,
and does it always get animated when the headliners play? Or was that a Stones Exclusive?

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with sssoul
Speaking of Glastonbury ... is there always a phoenix atop the Pyramid stage,
and does it always get animated when the headliners play? Or was that a Stones Exclusive?

Stones exclusive.

Way cool :E
Thanks Bastion

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buffalo7478
The thread title is my question. I don't get it. Is it nationalism? (I love music because it breaks down any thought of borders). Is it desire to be noticed ('that was me holding up the huge flag that blocked the view of 40,000 people behind me').
Is it just tradition?

Just wondering, as I watch Glastonbury on Palladia.

It's for the express purpose of blocking other peoples' view(s) and ruining their day(s) !!

[ I want to shout, but I can hardly speak ]