Hash House Harriers

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A large-scale Hash.
A large-scale Hash.

The Hash House Harriers (abbreviated to HHH or H3) is an international group of social, non-competitive running , social, and drinking clubs.

The template for a hash run is loosely based on hare hunting. One or more hashers (the "hares") lay out a running trail, that the rest of the club (pack or 'hounds') follows. The trail may include false trails (check-backs or CB), short cuts (or splits), breaks, and checks (a marking on the trail that requires the pack to search the area to discover the correct direction of the trail. These features are designed to keep the pack together regardless of fitness levels or running speed.

The organization of the Hash House Harriers is decentralized, with chapters (also called kennels). There are more than 1700 kennels with at least one Hash in most major cities in the world. Most hashes gather on a regularly scheduled basis, with some occurring only sporadically, i.e. on Leap Year days, or Friday the 13th, when that occurs.

Hashers frequently describe themselves as 'a drinking club with a running problem', and the social element of hashing is of equal importance to the running. The seriousness of the running and of the drinking varies with each Kennel. Some Kennels focus on running while other focus on drinking. The length and difficulty of runs varies accordingly between each Kennel.

Several regional directories or international directories have been published with Hash Contact information, although the Internet has become the primary source of hashing information.

Contents

[edit] History

Hashing began in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1938, when a casual group of British colonial officials and expatriates, Cecil Lee, Frederick "Horse" Thomson, Ronald "Torch" Bennett, and a British accountant of Catalan descent Albert Stephen Ignatius Gispert (A.S. Gispert) would meet after work on Monday evenings to run, following a paper trail, through the environs of Kuala Lumpur to get rid of the excesses of the previous weekend. There was another member of the group, John Woodrow, who is rarely credited as one of the founders as he left Malaysia after the war to return home to his family in Scotland.

After running for some months they were approached by the Registrar of Societies, who advised them that, as they were a "group" they would require a Constitution (the aims of which are reproduced below) and a name. (A.S. Gispert) (known as "G") suggested the name "Hash House Harriers". As bachelors, they were billeted in the Selangor Club Annex, known locally as the Hash House, because of its monotonous food. Their runs were patterned after the traditional British paper chase. A hare was given a head start to blaze a trail, marking his devious way with shreds of paper, all the while pursued by a shouting pack of "harriers." Only the hare knew where he was going...the harriers followed his clues to stay on trail. Apart from the excitement of chasing the hare and solving the clues, reaching the end was its own reward...for there these thirsty harriers would find a tub of iced beer (and, in those earlier, more forgiving days, ginger beer and cigarettes).

Hashing died out during World War II after the Japanese invasion of Malaysia, but started again shortly after the war, when the original protagonists, minus "G" who had been killed in the Japanese invasion of Singapore, re-assembled in Kuala Lumpur. Apart from a "one off" chapter, formed in the Italian Riviera, (now the Royal Milan and Bordighera Hash), hashing didn't take off until 1962, when Ian Cumming founded the 2nd kennel in Singapore. From then on, the phenomenon started to grow, spreading through the Far East, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as Europe and North America. Hashing experienced a large growth in popularity during the mid-1970s.

By the end of the 20th century, there were thousands of Hash House Harrier clubs in all parts of the world, with newsletters, directories, and even regional and world hashing conventions. This boom is owed largely to the power of the Internet to provide timely and accurate information on kennels and their events and points of contact. As of 2003, there are two organized HHH groups in Antarctica.[1]

[edit] How it is done

Hashing hasn't strayed far from its Kuala Lumpur roots. A typical hash kennel (local chapter or group) today is a loosely-organized group of 20-100 men and women, aka Harriers and Harriettes or hussies, although not all groups are co-ed, and some chapters in major metropolitan areas have well more than 100 hashers at an event. Kennel members meet to follow a trail laid by a hare (the person(s) leading the trail who leaves the appropriate marks on the ground, trees etc. for the pack to follow). While strips or pieces of paper have previously been used to mark trail, especially in tropical areas, it has generally been replaced with flour or chalk, with toilet paper often being used in off-road areas that would make the other marks difficult to see. Many hash kennels recommend that the hare call the local police dispatcher before the run as a courtesy to inform them of the run. They also prefer the use of bio-degradable materials such as flour or sawdust to mark the trail in order to avoid unnecessary problems. After the anthrax scares in 2001, many groups throughout the Western world had to change the way they marked trails by using colored chalk or other materials. Generally any mark used to identify the trail is called a 'hash mark'. On August 25, 2007, a "bio-terror" alert was triggered in New Haven, Connecticut due to hashers using flour, and the two hares (who spread the flour) were charged with a felony in an event known as the Hamburger Hash Affair.[2]

Trails may be "live" - where the hare gets the head start (often 5-10 minutes) from the pack, or "dead" - where trail is laid entirely (or in part) in advance of the start. Live trails, while closer to the original Hare and Hounds tradition mentioned in "Tom Brown's Schooldays", are more common in the USA, while the rest of the world tends towards "dead" or pre-laid trails. The choice of "live" or "dead" trails is a subject of much controversy on the various hash-related discussion groups.

There may be one or more "beer stops" or "beer checks" along the way, with the hare either pre-caching a stock of beer, or having the trail go to a prearranged meeting spot with the "beer truck", generally a personal vehicle that someone is using to transport a keg or cooler of drinks, snacks, and beer along with the hash's gear.

With a "live" trail, the general intent of the pack is to attempt to catch the hare before they finish the trail and get to the end. In efforts to do this, some pack members might "range", or go off-trail if they can guess where the hare may go, in attempts to head off the hare. Generally such a form of athleticism is frowned on by some of the more socially minded kennels. To make the run interesting, the hare can set the trail through literally any kind of terrain, with the hares' imagination providing the only limitation. Hashers may run through streets, back alleyways, residential areas, forests, swamps or shopping malls, ford streams, climb fences, explore storm drains, run through huge jungles and scale cliffs. The pack never knows where a trail will go or where it may lead and are occasionally may be advised to bring a change of clothes and shoes to be used after the trail is complete.

A trail may be 'A to A', where the run starts and ends in the same place, or 'A to B' where the start and end are at different locations.

Often the hare will employ several tricks in attempts to slow the pack and to keep runners and walkers together. The hare may mark an intersection - generally called a "check" - that signifies that the trail continues within a 360 degree area from that point. Several false trails may lead from that check and it is up to the front runners to "solve" the trail by going out and determining what might actually be the correct path, or "true trail". Once the true way has been determined then that runner may mark the check to indicate the proper direction so that anyone to come up it later (such as the walkers, other runners, or anyone arriving late) will not have to figure it out all over again. The pack will generally carry whistles, horns, or other audible means of communicating in order to assist each other on trail and keep from getting lost. A member of the pack calling out "Are you?" means to know if another individual is searching for the true trail, typically near a check (or intersection), or is on the correct path. Someone will typically call out either "Checking!" to indicate that they are looking for the trail or "On-On", or blow their whistle or horn three times, to signify that they are on the true trail and that the pack should follow them. Otherwise, the member may shout "Flying!" or give a couple of "wing flaps" with their arms indicate that they have abandoned the true trail in search of a short cut; others should only follow at their own risk.

Every Hash House employs its own set of marks and the names for these marks may vary widely, so Hashers visiting another pack should check the local signs before the run. Traditionally, new runners of visitors will have the local markings explained to them before the run at a "chalk talk". The hares for that particular run may give some trail-specific advice, too, such as rare markings used, or particular encounters such as a swimming hole.

Although some (but perhaps very few) of today's health-conscious hashers drink water or a diet soda, a trail's end is still a predominantly alcoholic drinking occasion. The exception would be found at a family hash. At trail's end hashers gather to drink beer and observe the traditions of the "Circle." This typically consists of drinking more beer; this time ritualistically. Circles may be led by the hash Grandmaster, the group's Religious Adviser, or by a committee of mismanagement. Traditions and the degree of rowdiness vary from hash to hash, but in general the Circle consists of awarding "Down-Downs" for misdemeanors real, imagined, or blatantly made up. Generally the activities will also include the group singing of bawdy drinking songs of the type that can be heard in a pub, fraternity party, military get-together, rugby match, or other such social gathering. These songs are also published and distributed to members in the form of so-called Hash House Hymnals.

At the conclusion of the Circle, some hashers may head to an "On-After" or "On-On-On", which may be at a nearby restaurant or pub for food and more drinks. This is the social part of the hash, and the party may last from one hour to several hours, as they tell stories, have fun, and enjoy everyone's company.

Generally no membership or reservations are required to join a group, and typically all that is needed is to find out the time and location of the start; either by emailing a current member, viewing the group website, calling the information phone line if available, and just showing up. Some require fees to help to cover food and drinks costs, and usually range between 5-10 USD. Most groups conduct a "chalk talk" where introductions are made and the system of hash marks is explained to new hashers and visiting hashers who may be used to a different system of marking. The exception to this would be special events, such as camp out, pub crawls, etc., that require significant pre-planning of food and beverages, however even then walk-ins are generally welcome.

[edit] Traditions and naming convention

There are said to be no rules in hashing, however several traditions have developed with a violation of such severely frowned upon and likely to invoke a punishment by way of a "down-down". A down-down is one of the oldest traditions and is a means of punishing or rewarding pretty much anything. Upon being called to do a down-down the accused must come to the middle of the circle and drink everything that they have in their vessel (generally a cup, mug, or other drinking device). They must do this without pause until they have consumed the whole quantity of drink (typically beer, but it can be of any drink they may have with them) or they must pour the remaining contents over their head.

Typically there are no new shoes allowed on the hash trail whereas being caught in a pair of new shoes may require that one drinks from the offending shoe as penance. Other traditions include a prohibition of pointing with fingers, requiring the use of elbows or other appendages to indicate direction, and a proscription against the use of real names (aka nerd names) at any point around other hashers.

One aspect of hashing that makes the activity stand out (besides the running and general drinking of beer) is the use of names as assigned by the group. Though traditions may vary greatly among the groups, and some groups do not do this, it is common practice to give members a name. At their first hash, attendees will generally be known as "Virgin [Name]" or "New Boot [Name]" and will then be called "Just [Name]" until duly named by the group. The occasion of a member's naming by the group may occur after they have attended a specified number of hashes (e.g. 5), after they hare their first trail, or after they do something the pack deems noteworthy. Before a naming, the group may collect information concerning the individual or ask them a series of questions that can include occupation, most embarrassing moment, personal preferences, stories, or experiences. Others will then be allowed to share their own stories or knowledge concerning that individual in hopes of finding some aspect that seems to be memorable or noticeably sticks out regarding that person. Many suggestions may be offered, with the final name being chosen by vote or general group consensus with more often than not some humorous or debaucherous connotation being used.

The traditional symbol of the hash is the outline of the foot, with often the words "On-On" written upon it.

[edit] Terms

"Are You?" Question shouted by the pack to FRBs, meaning "Are you on the trail?"
Back hare/Sweeper Hare who remains with the last runners
Bar Trail mark indicating that the true trail branches off prior to the mark
Bash Bicycle Hash
Beer Check Beverage stop or trail mark indicating a beverage stop
Beermeister The person that supplies the beer, soda, water, and chips for the hash
Boob Check see Ladies' Check
Check Trail mark indicating the true trail must be sought out from the false trails
Check Back Same as false trail
Circle Assembly of hashers at trail's end, normally for the purpose of conducting down-downs
Checking Answer shouted by FRB to pack when asked "Are You?", indicating that FRB has not determined whether the trail he's following is true or false
Check-it-out Invitation given to the hounds by the hare to find the true trail
Crop busting Short-cutting across a field
DFL Dead Fucking Last: Slowest member(s) of the pack, or the last the arrive at the on-in
Down-Down The ceremony of quaffing a beverage (an honour)
Dust Sawdust or flour used to mark the trail
Eurohash International hashing event held in Europe in odd-numbered years
False trail A short trail ended with the Tee sign, three lines, or other mark indicating termination, see also Falsies
Falsie A false trail
FBI First Bitch In: The first harriette to arrive at the on-in
FRB Front-Running Bastard: Faster members of the pack, or the first to arrive at the on-in
Grand Master (GM) mismanagement member, ceremonial leader of the hash
Grand Mistress (GM) mismanagement member, female ceremonial leader of the hash
Haberdasher Mismanagement member in charge of T-shirts, hats, mementos, etc
Hare Hasher who lays the trail
Hare Raiser Mismanagement member in charge of lining up hares for future trails
Harriette Female hasher
Hash Cash Mismanagement member; the treasurer
Hash Horn Mismanagement member; carries a horn or bugle on trail, blows it to encourage and guide the pack
Hash House The Selangor Club in Kuala Lumpur, meeting place of the Mother Hash
Hash House Harrier Any hasher
Hash Master (HM) Mismanagement member
Hash Mistress Mismanagement member. Generally has no useful function, but it keeps the girlies quiet.
Hash Name Nickname, usually bestowed after a set number of runs or in honour of a notable incident; not used by all hashes
Hash Trash see 'The Words'
Hash Shit offensive or embarrassing object given to a hasher for notable on-trail accomplishments, normally carried by the awardee on subsequent trails until it is awarded to someone else
Hasher Any Hash House Harrier
Hashing The act of running a hash trail
Held/hold Check Trail mark indicating an intersection where true trail may take another direction, but requires hashers to wait until ordered by the hare to 'check it out'
Horrors Hashers' children
Hounds The body of hashers in pursuit of the hare, see also Pack
Interhash regional, national, or world hash gathering
Kennel Local Hash Group
Knitting Circle Group of harriers or harriettes (usually the latter) who spend more time walking and talking than hashing.
Ladies' Check Harriettes to 'check it out'
Live Hare Hare who gets a nominal head start and is pursued by the pack as he or she lays trail
Looking Answer shouted by FRB to pack when asked "Are You?", indicating that FRB has lost the true trail
Mismanagement Hash officials; sometimes elected, sometimes appointed
Mutt A hashers dog
Nash hash A national interhash
Newbies or FNGs Virgin hashers
On In Trail's end, also On-Inn; trail mark indicating proximity to end
On On Shouted by FRBs or hounds to indicate they're on trail, sometimes used only to indicate true trail; trail mark indicating true trail
On Sec Mismanagement member normally in charge of hash rosters, run records, etc
Puppies hashers' children, see Horrors
Receding Hareline list of up-and-coming hash events, normally printed in The Words
Religious Advisor (RA) Mismanagement member, often in charge of Circle, also in charge of blessing the hash and settling disputes over tradition
RG Trail marking indicating hashers should not continue until The Pack has regrouped
Scribe Mismanagement member normally in charge of writing The Words
SCB Short-Cutting Bastard: habitual short-cutter
Shiggy thick vegetation, streams, etc; especially mud
Shagpile Hashname for a hasher of (alleged) extreme intelligence, good looks, sexual prowess but less than moderate fitness
Strollers see knitting circle
Sweeper see Back hare
The Words/Hash Trash Weekly hash newspaper mainly recounting the events of the last run, written by the Hare(s)
T(ee) Hash mark indicating a section of trail going nowhere, designed to slow down the pack
Tradition euphemism for "rule"
Virgin Hash newbie

[edit] Special events

Sometimes a kennel will conduct a special event in place of a normal hash, that can consist of anything from a house party, camp out, or pub crawl. One of the more famous events is known as the 'Red Dress Run' and is held by most local chapters once a year. This tradition began in San Diego when a virgin (new) hasher showed up for a run wearing only a red dress (having been ill informed of what to expect). When she next returned, other hashers decided to wear a red dress as a joke; with it soon becoming an annual event and eventually spreading around the world. During this event, which can be either a normal hash run or a simple day-long pub crawl, everyone (both genders) is to wear something red and dress-like, not specifically just a red dress. Turn outs include red body latex paint to red duct tape, red sarongs, or a normal lovely summer dress, with all extremes being pretty well accepted. In Kennels that host red-dress runs, it is not unusual that it be the largest hash of the year with attendance up to 2,000 in San Diego for a couple of years over 1500 currently in New Orleansand 500-600 in places such as Washington DC. Other variations of a theme can be seen, as kennels might also host a green dress run (often held around St. Patrick's Day), formal dress run, lingerie hash, or a clown hash.

There are also bicycle hashes or BASHes, that have been formed, based on the same principles as the running hashs, but often without the ceremonial aspects. In many countries, there may be Children Hashes for those under 16, generally with soft drinks replacing beer and many adult themes being toned down considerably. There are also "Hash-O" events that combine elements of hashing and orienteering.

[edit] Goals

The goals of hashing, from a 1950 club registration card for the Hash House Harriers in Kuala Lumpur are:

  • To promote physical fitness among our members
  • To get rid of weekend hangovers
  • To acquire a good thirst and to satisfy it in beer
  • To persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel
  • To get laid

[edit] Worldwide International Hash

There are several international events, where hashers from different groups get together to run and drink beer together, but the most famous is the biennial Interhash, where hashers from around the world gather. The 2006 Interhash— Chiang Mai, offered runs in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and South West China.

Many countries also hold semi-annual national or continental events, such as the InterAmericas Hash.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Flying Booger's Hash Primer
  2. ^ [1]

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