So you want to try hashing... What the H#LL is it anyway??? Read on...

 

The Hash-House Harriers is an expatriate social club with a jogging problem started by lonely British expatriates in Malaysia prior to World War II. In the 1960's, the club began to spread to other countries, first in Asia, then on to other continents. Today, there are more than 1250 chapters world-wide.

 

The rules are simple. There are no rules. A hare puts out a trail filled with surprises in advance. You run or walk the trail. Afterwards we have drinks and snacks on location. The length of the weekly event is about 45 minutes to 1 hour. The idea is to have fun, meet new people, and see new and interesting places. You don’t have to be a runner to participate, so you can too! If you want more information, just call. Otherwise, just show up. Please pass on to who ever may be interested, and please bring a friend. On On !!!

 

 

Virgin's Guide to Hashing with Amsterdam H3

 

This guide is presented according to the mannerisms that are espoused by the Amsterdam Chapter of the Hash House Harriers. If you get brought up on a charge anywhere else by following these instructions then that's not my fault, but then again that *is* half the fun. 

Contents

Before You Go 

Hashing is an outdoor activity so it is important to be properly kitted out for the event. If you've never been hashing before then you will need at least the following articles of clothing: 

Getting to the Hash 

Make sure you you know where you are going. Many hashes will start religiously at the time appointed so get there early enough that you can be ready to go on the appointed hour. However in Amsterdam, we have a different definition of on time which means that the further away from Amsterdam we are the later we start. This is entirely due to the traffic and has nothing to do with our hashers being incapable of turning up on time. 

Avoid driving! Most runs are set near public transport... use it! 
 

Before the Hash 

When you arrive at the hash site, the hashers should be fairly easy to find. In the event of difficulty shouting "On-On" a couple of times until you get a response will lead you the bunch of individuals you were looking for. At this point people will ask you questions like: "Who are you?" and "Are you a virgin?" Suffice it to say they are not enquiring about your sexual prowess but are in fact asking if you've ever been hashing before. They will also introduce themselves with a variety of weird names, these are hash names earned after some spectacular exploit which merited them being given that name. Don't worry you'll never remember them all especially after a couple of beers. 

Now pay. Current hash run fee is 4.00 Euros. This pays for the beer your about to drink and snacks at the end of the trail. Sign the hash sheet. On large hashes someone will often come round and ask you for money, but we are a small hash so we tend to let everyone sign themselves in and put their money in the kitty. Now all you need do is get ready to run, but no stretching!!! Stretching is a hash crime and one of the many that you can commit. Crimes are punished after the Hash so don't assume you can get away with it because no one says anything at the time. 
Someone will now shout "Circle Up" and you are ready for the off. 
 

Making your way Round the Hash 

On the shout of circle up everyone forms a circle round the RA ( Religious Adviser ) who will summon the hare(s) to the fore. The hares are the people who have laid out the trail you are about to follow. Memorize their faces as these people know where the trail leads so when in doubt look for them. With the hares introduced they will tell you about the trail. 

The trail will be laid using a one of or a combination of flour, sawdust and chalk. The trail in the main will consist of blobs of sawdust or flour or an arrow in chalk. These signs mean that you are on the trail and that you should carry on going to the next blob shouting ON-ONE, ON_TWO and then ON_ON as you get to the third blob in a row. You are now On Trail.  If you never find the third blob you must go back to the last check and look in another direction until you find all three blobs.

Once on trail you may run across several additional signs.  Each of the following signs means that the way ahead is not clear. The specific sign gives instructions as to what to do next 
   
Check This means that you now have to search out the route to continue. When you've found three blobs then you are on and you should yell loudly "ON-ON". If you subsequently meet a Check Back or a False Trail then you need to take specific action. If you see one or two blobs and then nothing else then go back, its an implicit false trail.
Ladies Check Same as a normal check but only the Hash House Harem may check on this one. Oh and the Gynecologist. ( He checks women after all !! ) 
Halt Check Stop and wait for everyone to catch up and then begin to check
There are two other commonly seen signs, the Check Back and the "F" for False Trail. These mean that the trail ends here and you need to go back to find the true trail. 
 

Hash Breaks 

Beer Check When this sign is seen it means stop, beer is about to be consumed. In many hashes a beer stop is obligatory, but not in Amsterdam. A beer stop normally takes place on the street but occasionally the beer stop is in a pub.  This check could be proceeded by BN (Beer Near) or may be marked at BS (Beer Stop)
Song Check On sight of this sign stop, a song is about to be sung. If you want to learn our hash songs then download a copy of our Hash Songbook, available on our goodies page. All you need to do is print it out and carry it with you at all times..

The Hare may use other signs then those mentioned, but don't worry they will explain everything at the start of the run.

Finishing the Hash 

Eventually you will see the words "On-In" in whatever medium the hares choose on the trail. This means the end of the trail is near by and most importantly the beer is at hand. When you arrive at the finish please give a hand in getting beer and such like things organized. Nobody gets paid for this and a little hand is always appreciated. And all you back markers can help clean up afterwards. 
 

The Circle 

After a short interval to allow all the hashers to get their breath back and put on any new items of clothing they wish the RA will call the circle to order and proceed to punish all the transgressors of the week. The RA can invent new transgressions when ever they like, but a few of the common ones are:  There are many others, but I'm not going to spoil the fun by telling them to you now. Don't worry though, as a first timer you'll get one just for that. 
The punishment for a transgression is the drinking of a beer whilst being serenaded by your fellow hashers to the likes of "Drink it down - down - down".  
 

The Hash Hymn 

The circle concludes with the singing of the Hash Hymn - Swing Low Sweet Chariot. The words can be found in our songbook and the the hand actions that go with it are easily learnt. 
 

The On On 

After we've stood around and done everything we usually go to a pub for more beer and/or food before resuming our daily lives. Everyone is welcome to join in and we hope you will too. 

Till we see you.... 
ON - ON 

Doggy Style