What is hashing
I can only explain what our hash runs are about. The rest I'll leave to
Wikipedia. Our hash starts out initiating the virgins (new people). Then we
start the run with a few blessings. The run consist of markers to either throw
the runners off course or lead them to true trails. Don't worry, you will never
get lost. Hashers will let you know where the true trails and it is their duty
to never leave a hasher confused. During our hashes you will find 2 beer checks.
That's right; we chill a drink a beer before we start running again. At the end,
we celebrate with drinking songs and hashing ceremonies (make fun of anybody and
everybody).
Here is the best description I was able to find to explain what hashing is all
about…
Organization
The Hash House Harriers is a decentralized organization, with each chapter
(Kennel) individually managed with no uniting organizational hierarchy. A
kennel's management is typically known as the MisManagement and consists of
individuals with various duties and titles, such as Grand Master or Religious
Adviser. There are more than 1,700 kennels spanning all seven continents. Most
major cities are home to at least one kennel, with some areas boasting more than
ten groups. Kennels typically contain 20-100 members and are usually co-ed,
though some metropolitan area Hashes can draw more than 1,000 Hashers to an
event.
History
Hashing began in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1938, when a casual group of British
colonial officers and expatriates began meeting on Monday evenings to run, in a
fashion patterned after the traditional British paper chase, to rid themselves
of the excesses of the previous weekend. This original group consisted of four
members: Cecil Lee, Frederick "Horse" Thomson, Ronald "Torch" Bennett, and
Albert Stephen (A.S.) Ignacious "G" Gispert. John Woodrow was also an original
member of the group, but is rarely credited as a founder, having left Malaysia
soon after the war and returning to Scotland.
After meeting for some months, they were informed by the Registrar of Societies
that as a "group," they would require a Constitution and an official name. A.S.
Gispert suggested the name "Hash House Harriers" in homage to the Selangor Club
Annex, where the men were billeted, so named the "Hash House" for its
notoriously monotonous food. The final word, "Harriers," refers to the role of
those in the chase, where the "hare" was given a head start to blaze a trail and
mark his path with shreds of paper, and then pursued by a shouting pack of
"harriers." Apart from the excitement of chasing the hare and finding the "true"
path, harriers reaching the end of the trail would be rewarded with beer, ginger
beer, and cigarettes.
The Constitution of the Hash House Harriers is laid out in the following
philosophy from a KL city club registration card dated 1950:
- 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
Hashing died out during World War II after the Japanese invasion of Malaysia,
but was re-started after the war by the original group, minus A.S. Gispert, who
was killed in the Japanese invasion of Singapore.
Apart from a "one-off" chapter formed in the Italian Riveria, growth of Hashing
remained small until 1962, when Ian Cumming founded the second kennel in
Singapore. The idea then spread through the Far East, Australia, and New
Zealand, then through Europe and North America, booming in popularity during the
mid-1970s.
At present, there are almost two thousand kennels in all parts of the world,
with members distributing newsletters, directories, and magazines and organizing
regional and world Hashing events. As of 2003, there are even two organized
kennels operating in Antarctica.[1]
Events
The sole purpose of a kennel is the organization of Hashes: a running event
loosely-based on hare hunting. Most kennels gather on a weekly or monthly basis,
though some events occur sporadically.
At a Hash, one or more members (Hares) lay a trail, which is then followed by
the remainder of the group (the Pack or Hounds). The trail often includes false
trails, short cuts, dead ends, and splits. These features are designed to keep
the pack together regardless of fitness level or running speed, as front-runners
are forced to slow down to find the "true" trail, allowing stragglers to catch
up.
Members often describe their group as "a drinking club with a running problem,"
indicating that the social element of an event is as important, if not more so,
than any athleticism involved. Alcohol is often an integral part of a Hash,
though the balance between running and drinking differs between kennels, with
some groups placing more focus on socializing and others on running.
Generally, Hash events are open to the public and require no reservation or
membership, but some may require a small fee ($5-10 USD) to cover the cost of
food or drink. Information on upcoming hashes is distributed through
word-of-mouth, phone lines, or the Internet.
Post-Hash Events
The end of a trail is predominantly an occasion to drink beer, water, or soda
and observe any traditions of the individual kennel (see Traditions). When the
Hash officially ends, many members will continue socializing at an On-After,
On-On-On or On-Down, an event held at a nearby house, pub, or restaurant.
Thank you wikipedia for this content