If you have ever attended a festival or a rave, you most likely heard the word PLUR passed around. PLUR is a term commonly used throughout the rave community that holds lots of value and meaning to all ravers. This four-letter acronym is one of the core components of the rave community that has set such powerful and meaningful values that are deeply rooted within our scene.
Table Of Contents:
- What Does PLUR Stand For?
- Where Did PLUR Originate?
- Meaning Behind PLUR
- PLUR Handshake & Trading Kandi
- How To PLUR Handshake & Trade Kandi
- Conclusion
What Does PLUR Stand For?
The rave community welcomes everyone with open arms and accepts all for who they are. No matter your sex, race, age, or ethnicity, PLUR brings us together and allows us to celebrate individuality and oneness at the same time, together.
This powerful four-letter acronym stands for Peace, Love, Unity, Respect. It is a set of values and mentality; a behavioral and ethical guide; a mantra that is embraced and spread by all ravers.
Peace
Peace is freedom from disturbance. It is tranquility. We’re all here to have a good time. We listen and dance to music. We are at peace both internally and externally.
Love
Love is unconditional. We spread love to help each other. Whether we are strangers or close friends, the community is here for one another.
Unity
Unity is being in harmony with one another. For the most part, we’re all here for the same reason. We’re here to have a good time. We’re here to listen to music and dance like nobody is watching; to express ourselves without the fear of someone judging us.
Respect
Respect is treating others how you would want to be treated. That includes respecting yourself, your friends, your fellow ravers, the venue, and everything else in between. We respect ourselves and those around us to create a comfortable space for everyone to enjoy.
Where Did PLUR Originate?
Before PLUR was Peace, Love, Unity, Respect, it was actually PLUM. Peace, Love, Unity, Movement. In 1990, New York DJ Frankie Bones started the Peace Love Unity Movement. Three years later, a fight broke out at a warehouse rave and the DJ stopped the show, got on the mic, and emphasized the importance of the fourth mantra within the rave community: Respect. And at that moment, PLUR was born!
Why Do People Say PLUR?
PLUR represents freedom of expression, and for many, it’s a way of life. No matter the event you’re at – whether it be at a festival or a rave – people say PLUR to spread love and positive vibrations to those around them.
Incorporating these values into the rave community is what makes the community so inviting. Our uniqueness is what makes us beautiful. We come together and celebrate that with music and movement. PLUR is the reason why – when you’re in the middle of a crowd of 300,000 people at Electric Daisy Carnival Las Vegas – you feel at home.
There are many ways you can spread PLUR vibes – whether it be small acts of kindness at a show or event or giving back to the community whenever possible. Another common and traditional way ravers spread these good vibes and pass them along to others is with the PLUR handshake which involves trading kandi.
The PLUR Handshake & Trading Kandi
Each letter in the PLUR acronym has a specific hand movement to accompany. This special handshake then leads to trading kandi. Now you may be wondering “what the heck is kandi?” Kandi are handmade bracelets that are made of colorful beads that oftentimes include letter beads that include kind, cute or funny messages. Trading kandi is a meaningful way to show PLUR and spread good vibes to your fellow ravers. It creates memorable moments and is a great way to meet new people.
How To PLUR Handshake & Trade Kandi
If you’re at a festival or rave and want to spread love to another raver, trading kandi is the perfect way to do so.
- Peace – you and a partner each make a peace sign with your fingers and touch them together.
- Love – each person makes a half heart with their hand and connects together to make a whole heart.
- Unity – both palms will be pressed together with fingers wrapped around each other to hold hands.
- Respect – all fingers are interlocked together.
- Now that both hands are holding each other you both trade the kandi! Each person takes a turn to take a kandi bracelet from their own wrist and pass it over the joined hands onto the other person’s wrist.
Conclusion
Spreading love goes a long way! Within the rave community, many ravers see PLUR as a way of life. We are all here for a good time – and we will spread positive vibes to others to help each other have the best time. PLUR encourages us to do something out of pure love and happiness – without expecting anything in return – because we know the rave community is here for anyone and everyone, whenever and wherever we need. Head to our blog to learn more about Music Festival For Beginners or Earplugs For Music toprotect your ears while at shows!
Juliet Norelli has been a part of the rave community for 10 years. She shares her knowledge through writing to give helpful tips and advice to all ravers.