Flashmobs are the latest craze in Europe this summer
Published:
18 August 2003 y., Monday
Flashmobs are the latest craze in Europe this summer. It’s another scorching day in Berlin, and on the Alexanderplatz in the city’s center, people are sitting on the edge of a fountain, hoping to catch some relief from the heat. A few are standing around in curious expectation. An Internet site had said a flashmob would take place at 5:00 p.m. But at 4:59 there was no trace of anything out of the ordinary.
Then at five on the dot, a circle of some 10 people suddenly convened around the fountain from out of nowhere. They were all young men in their 20s. Each took off his left show and passed it to his neighbor. Within about 15 seconds, the shoes had made a full circle and were back with their owners. The men gave themselves a high-five and dispersed without a trace. All that was left after their departure were amused and slightly confused onlookers, wondering what they just say.
Flashmobs, or spontaneous gatherings of people engaged in somewhat pointless activities, are the most recent U.S. import. In June of this year, the first such event took place in a Macy’s department store in New York. Since then, the concept has spread quickly across the United States, and leapfrogged over to Australia, Singapore and, as of the end of July, made its way to Europe.
In Germany, flashmobs have become very popular among a mostly young, computer-savvy group. More than 150 towns and cities have been the sites for the blitz-like gatherings, and in Berlin, at least two or three of the brief nonsensical events are announced every day on various Web sites, e-mail lists and mobile phone messages.
Šaltinis:
dw-world.de
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Taxi driver Santiago Gori found a suitcase in the back of his cab stuffed with the equivalent of 35,000 U.S. dollars.
more »
Today 150 citizens from across the EU met top policy-makers in Brussels to hand over their recommendations on how to tackle the economic and social challenges facing Europe.
more »
These panda cubs playing in a Chinese nature sanctuary are lucky to have seen the light of day. Their pregnant mothers were rescued in the aftermath of last year's huge earthquake.
more »
The clock stands permanently at the time last year's huge earthquake hit the Chinese industrial town of Hanwang. The once-thriving town is now a ruin.
more »
A Spanish punter has won what could be Europe's largest lottery jackpot. The newly wealthy winner beat odds of 76 million to one.
more »
During the draw another five winners of the Danske Bankas monthly Scholarship award (a one off payment to the amount of 250 litas) were announced.
more »
In Mexico City people return to the streets as shops, restaurants and offices reopen their doors after a five day shut down to stem the deadly swine flu outbreak.
more »
The summit comes amid concern about the human cost of the recession in Europe.
more »
Opinion polls in Sweden suggest the Pirate Party could win a seat in June's European elections
more »
The European Parliament wants to make it compulsory for assisting spouses to have social security cover.
more »