noun Music Slang

Totem

/ˈtoʊtəm/ · noun · informal

A tall decorated pole crews raise at festivals to find each other in the crowd.

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Definitions

1

Used for the often hilarious or meme-based decoration at the top of that pole.

“Their totem this year is a framed photo of a random guy, iconic.”
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2

A tall pole topped with a sign, cutout or object that a friend group raises so they can spot and regroup in a massive crowd.

“Just find the inflatable shark totem and that's us.”
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3

Loosely, any rallying landmark in a sea of people.

“The tall flag became the unofficial totem for our section.”
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Totem In A Sentence

Lost my group for hours until I finally spotted the totem.
Best totem of the weekend was a cardboard cat on a broomstick.
Check the totem rules before you build one, some stages ban poles.

Origin & Usage

Borrowed from the general meaning of 'totem' as an emblem or marker. The festival meetup-pole tradition grew with the rise of huge EDM festivals where crowds made it impossible to find friends.

People Also Ask

What is a totem at a festival?

It's a tall decorated pole a group raises so they can find each other in a huge crowd.

Why do festivals have totems?

Crowds are so large that phones and shouting don't cut it, so a visible pole becomes the meetup landmark.

Are totems allowed everywhere?

Not always — some festivals and stages restrict pole height or ban them, so check the rules first.

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