HISTORY OF HASHING

group

A group of British colonial officials and expatriates in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia started Hashing in the year 1938. They initially started a running club called the Hash House Harriers. They decided the name for their group after their meeting place, the Selangor Club, informally known as the "Hash House."

Following the traditional British paper chase game known as “Hare and Hounds" played by the English schoolboys, the Hash House Harrier series was devised. Initially, it was started as a Monday cross-country run to sober up the officials after the weekend’s party. The group would meet up at a restaurant nicknamed the “Hash House” where they could immediately resume partying.

hare

The person chosen as the "hare" would start a trail, marking his devious way using paper shreds. Later they started using chalk or flour along with shreds of paper. The hare was pursued by an excited pack of "harriers." The path was only known to the hare, the harriers had to follow the clues he left behind to stay on the trail. The harriers followed and enjoyed the chase for it was not only for the excitement of chasing and solving the clues but when they would reach the end there was a reward for completing the trail-a tub full of iced-down beer awaited the thirsty harriers.

hashing

Hashes are usually of two types: dead hare and the live hare. The dead hare is more common than the live hash. In this, the trail is set ahead of time by the hare. In live hare, the hare always sets out just before the hounds start following the trail.

mountain hash

Sadly, during the Second World War hashing died out (Japanese commanding forces were notoriously anti-fun) but it was reinstated post-war years. Hashing then spread through Australia, New Zealand, and the Far East. During the mid-70s it gained popularity. Today in all parts of the world there are thousands of Hash House Harrier clubs.