Hash Around the Globe

Hash Around The Globe- July 1999

The Hash is not the same as the brown stuff you buy in coffee shops in Amsterdam. Although Amsterdam does have its own Hash. No, The Hash is much more than its name suggests. In fact, it is really called The Hash House Harriers or HHH for short.

What is The Hash?

Basically, it’s a drinking club with a running problem operating in nearly 184 countries with over 100,000 members.

Most people I come across and invite to a Hash, have never heard of it so I usually then point them to Stray Dog’s HHH web site which is probably one of the most comprehensive web sites on Hashing, and a good jumping off point to find the closest HHH club to your location. I have often accessed the site from Internet cafes during my travels to find the nearest club and join them for a Hash. It’s a great way to meet fun, like-minded people in a new town and it’s probably the best place to find authorities on the local brewing specialties.

How do you start Hashing?

Well, first you need the contact numbers of the local Hash Committee (posted on Stray Dog’s site), then you call up and get directions and times of the next Hash. As the saying goes “If you have half a mind to join The Hash, that’s all it takes.” Otherwise you could wait around forever until you find that good samaritan who will take you along to his/her Hash.

I remember my first Hash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I was given a hand-drawn map (Hashes in Saudi are in the boonies) advising when to turn off the asphalt road, and for how many kilometers to follow a certain camel track. Driving at reckless speeds over rough terrain in the most durable vehicle ever invented (The Company Car) I finally came across a gathering of 30-40 other durable cars out in the middle of the desert.

Once at the Hash site, the events change little from Hash to Hash. You find the Hash Cash (a small fee is charged to cover The Official Hash Liquid – Beer), who signs you up so that they know if they’ve lost someone out in the desert at the end of the Hash. A brief circle is formed with an explanation of the trail markings, and off you go running or walking, following the obnoxious chap with the loud horn marking the ‘True Trail’. Hopefully, somewhere on the trail will be a Beer Check, a point to shoot the breeze with fellow Hashers and down a few cold ones. (Recently on a the Frankfurt Hash we had an Ouzo Check, then a Beer Check, then a Gin & Tonic Check!) Then it’s OnOn (keep going) to the OnIn (stop and rest) and the DownDowns (drink beer).

At the end of the run/walk, is the OnIn where the Hash Ceremonies take place. One of these ceremonies is the Naming wherein a poor Hasher gets a Hash Name. Mine happens to be Toejam, though the story of the origin differs from the definition. New members are welcomed “Who made you come?” and jubilees are celebrated in proper Hash style (Some veterans have over 1,000 runs.) Afterwards it’s usually on to the local pub.

Every Hash is different. Some are male only, some are female only, but most are mixed. Some Hashes sing lewd Hash songs, some don’t. Some Hashes may cover you in bright colored ‘gunge’, other ones won’t. Most Hashes have a Hash Haberdasher who, for a small price, will outfit you with some stunning Hash Duds. Some Hashes run, others walk and some even bike. But at all Hashes you should find fun folks who aren’t easily offended, but are sociable and outgoing.

So if you have half a mind, come on out and join the fun!

In addition to regular local Hashes, there are other regional shindigs like….

Country Nash Hashes,

the Americas Interhash,

the Eurohash, and that big party known as the World Interhash.

Hash Terminology

Hash Beermaster – Self Explanatory

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