Savannah Hash House Harriers:
A Drinking Club with a Running Problem…
An article by Dick Upon a Star, as it appeared in the October 2001 Creative Loafing Magazine.
Well, I stumble, but we’ll get to that later. CBroker (we’ll use hash names to protect the very guilty) approaches me at work one day and says, “Nykki, you’re kind of kooky and fun loving, meet me Thursday, 6:30, at Oglethorpe Square ready to run and DON’T WEAR NEW SHOES.” “Hmm,” I think, “interesting invitation. I must go and see what this is about.” This is about Hashing, which is the basis for a hedonistic social organization that chases a hare through a trail to get to the beer and sing raunchy songs. For real…this is what we do!
Hashing got its auspicious start in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia in 1938 when a group of bored British military men started a hare & hounds running group. They named themselves the Hash House Harriers after their local dive, the Selangor Club, which served up icky flavors of “hash” throughout the week. The runs were modeled after the traditional British school kid’s paper chase. A “hare” would be given a short head start to lay a convoluted trail with paper through town or wilderness…wilderness known by Hashers as “shiggy”, only to be followed by a pack of screaming harriers (guys) and harriettes (girls). Today the hares lay their trails with flour (hash) which leads to the beer. Beer being why British school kids are no longer invited to the Hash!
In the 60 odd years of its existence, Hashing has grown to an international phenomenon. I say phenomenon because hashing isn’t really a sport. Yes, there’s a finish line, but no one really cares if you make it. Hashing isn’t an organization because there’s nothing organized about it other than the traditions that have carried on throughout the years. Hashing isn’t a club…anyone can join if they’re of drinking age and a little left of center. Hashing is a phenomenon that has spread throughout the world. Today there are thousands of Hash Houses in a dozen different countries. And every single one of them likes to get together and run and party and sing silly drinking songs.
The Savannah Hash House Harriers have been in existence for 40 runs. It’s a new house, but thanks to the efforts of Grand Master (and Savannah Hash House Harriers founder) Tooth Fairy, Savannah H3 is still steeped in the tradition and lore of Hashers world wide. We meet twice a week for some good, old-fashioned, hedonistic fun. The trails average from 2-4 miles long with shortcuts for the fat lazy bastard (me and anyone who cares to join my walk/stumble to end of trail). If you’ve ever seen a pack of badly dressed runners, some of which may or may not be weaving down the street, following a trail marked in flour or chalk signs and yelling ON-ON! – you’ve just experienced your first hash. We meet, we chat, we down some beer (PBR seems to be the flavor of the month.) Then the hare takes off. We chat, we down some more beer, we sing Father Abraham to warm up and THEN THEY’RE OFF! The pack runs/walks/stumbles to get to the beer check in the middle of the trail, where we stop, we chat, we down some beer and THEN THEY’RE OFF! The pack finally gets to the end of trail to wait for the Dead F Last (usually me) to get in from trail so we can get onto the ceremonial portion of the Hash.
The Circle, Ah the Circle. It is where you are honored or punished according to celebrations or violation on trail. Award and punishment both being now and forever more: Beer. Each hash has a religious advisor who is familiar with hash tradition and songs. Our Religious Advisor, Tastes Like Chicken, wears his RA headgear proudly while leading the circle and inciting down-downs. (don’t even ask what a down-down is…I’m sure you can figure it out!) He’ll pull you into the Circle for anything from an anniversary to a naming to a violation of , oh, say…peeing on trail. (It happens. Beer equals pit stop and in shiggy, one doesn’t find many outhouses.) You will be escorted to the middle of the circle and told to “Charge your vessel!” (Fill your cup with beer) The religious advisor will then lead the hash in a traditional hash song. For example: sung to the tune of “The Flinstones” Everybody sing along!
Hashers, meet the Hashers They’re the biggest drunks in History! From the, town of Savannah, They’re the leaders in debauchery. Half Minds, trailing shiggy through the years, Watch them, as they down a lot of beers, Down, down, down down down down Down down down down down down down....
Traditionally, what you don’t drink in a down down goes ON you…but the Savannah Hashers being responsible drinkers (and a little fastidious to boot!) can end a down down at any time of their choosing by simply raising their vessels to their head. Savannah Hashers are even known to charge their vessels with water if the situation warrants it!
Hashing. To some it’s a good time with beer, to others a way to get into shape, and to more still, Hashing has become a way of life. After 5 or 6 trails, your Home Hash gets to know you a little…they start to dig up dirt from past debacles and never, ever let you forget your most embarrassing moments. You will never forget, because that moment will probably end up being your official Hash Name. (Once again, only Hash names are used in this story to protect the very guilty. And I’m not telling you mine until you come to the Hash!) Your Hash naming is a very grave ceremony where all participate. I had to sit bare cheeked on a bag of ice while I was awarded my name. Then I was doused with flour. Then I was doused with beer. It was one of the most amazing moments of my life and it took 2 days to get the dough out of all my crevices. But, because of that one simple and rather disgusting ceremony…I have an instant group of twisted friends and partners in debauchery all over the globe. We’ll occasionally get together for weekday trails or 4 day experiments in hedonism. Totally depraved or no, and depending on just how twisted you are…there is much fun to be had and beer to be consumed.
Hope to see you next Thursday at 6:30. Just remember…don’t wear new shoes…or you may be drinking out of them later. For more information or Savannah Hash times/locations: visit online at www.half-mind.com and follow the links to Savannah…or call the official Savannah H3 phone at 507-USUK. Please remember, Hashing is fun, it is irreverent and very politically incorrect. If you are easily offended, stay home and rent Disney.
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