The Hash House Harriers (commonly abreviated "HHH" or "H3" and referred to as "the Hash") is a worldwide collection of loosely-associated running groups. The organization of the HHH is completely decentralized, with chapters allowed to form and disband at any time and in any place.
Individual hashes have their own (often absurd) customs and rituals, but almost all hashes share several major characteristics. A Hash run will consist of running a trail that is not disclosed ahead of time, but rather is marked by some means by a member of the group. This tends to lead to unpredictable and dynamic running trails. At the end of the trail, participants hold a ceremony known as "down-downs", drinking beer to celebrate the run. After attending several runs, participants will be given a "hash name", which is generally based in either sexual innuendo or a specific memorable incident involving the new member. Hashers will almost always refer to each other by these "hash names".
Hashing began in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1938, when a small group of British colonial officials and expatriates, led by A.S Gispert, founded a running club called the Hash House Harriers. They named the group after their meeting place, the Selangor Club, nicknamed the Hash House. Hash House Harrier 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, thirsty harriers would find a tub of iced beer.Hashing died out during World War II (Japanese occupying forces being notoriously anti-fun) but picked up in the post-war years, spreading through the Far East, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as Europe and North America. Hashing really exploded in popularity in 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.
How it is done
Hashing hasn't strayed far from its Kuala Lumpur roots. A typical hash today is a loosely-organized group of 20-40 men and women who meet weekly or biweekly to chase the hare. The paper has generally been replaced with flour, but chalk and toilet paper is still used. The trails can be through residential areas, forests or swamps, but they are never boring. Hashers run streets and back alleyways, ford streams, climb fences, explore storm drains, and scale cliffs. And although some of today's health-conscious hashers may shun a cold beer in favor of water or a diet soda, trail's end is still a well deserved party.
(From the 1938 charter of the Kuala Lumpur Hash House Harriers)