Cheers.
A toast is a ritual in which a drink is taken as an expression of honor or goodwill. The term may be applied to the person or thing so honored, the drink taken, or the verbal expression
accompanying the drink. Thus, a person could be “the toast of the evening,” for whom someone “proposes a toast” to
congratulate and for whom a third person “toasts” in agreement. The ritual forms the basis of the literary and performance genre, of which Mark Twain’s “To the Babies” is a well-known example.
Our teacher when asked us to write few line about Cheers and what is that all about. So I wrote about it and explained why people touch the glasses before the drink it.And no one seem to have this mentioned in the history books.
I think the reason is to complete the senses . As you know we have 5 senses we know about. SIGHT, HEARING, SMELL, TOUCH,AND TEST.
We see the glass, we touch it, we smell the drink,and before we test the drink there is one sense missing , It is the sense of hearing so we touch the glasses together Chin Chin to hear the sound and complete the 5 senses.Complete with the group we are in complete health .
The toast as described here is rooted in western culture but certain cultures outside that sphere have their own traditions in which consuming a drink is connected with ideas of celebration and honor. While the physical and verbal ritual of the toast may be elaborate and formal, merely raising one’s glass towards someone or something and then drinking is essentially a toast as well, the message being one of goodwill towards the person or thing indicated.
According to various apocryphal stories, the custom of touching glasses evolved from concerns about poisoning. By one account, clinking glasses together would cause each drink to spill over into the others’ (though there is no real evidence for such an origin) According to other stories, the word toast became associated with the custom in the 17th century, based on a custom of flavoring drinks with spiced toast The word originally referred to the lady in whose honor the drink was proposed, her name being seen as figuratively flavoring the drink.
The International Handbook on Alcohol and Culture says toasting “is probably a secular vestige of ancient sacrificial libation in which a sacred liquid was offered to the gods: blood or wine in exchange for a wish, a prayer summarized in the words ‘long life!’ or ‘to your health!'”
Toasts may be solemn, sentimental, humorous, even bawdy or insulting. The practice of announcing one’s intention to make a toast and signaling for quiet by rapping on the wineglass, while common, is nonetheless] regarded by some authorities as rude. Except in very small and informal gatherings, a toast is offered standing. At a gathering, none should offer a toast to the guest of honor until the host has had the opportunity to do so. In English-speaking countries, guests may signal their approval of the toast by saying “hear hear.” The person honored should neither stand nor drink, but after the toast should rise to thank the one who has offered the toast, perhaps but not necessarily offering a toast in turn. As toasts may occur in long series, experienced attendees often make sure to leave enough wine in the glass to allow participation in numerous toasts.
Putting one’s glass down before the toast is complete, or simply holding one’s glass without drinking is widely regarded as impolite, suggesting that one does not share the benevolent sentiments expressed in the toast, nor the unity and fellowship implicit in toasting itself. Even the non-drinker is counseled not to refuse to allow wine to be poured for a toast Inverting the glass is especially discouraged.
It is a superstition in the usa navy that a toast is never to be made with water, since the person so honored will be doomed to a watery grave.
It is or was the custom on the (British) Royal navy to drink toasts sitting, because in old-type wooden warships below decks there was not enough headroom to stand upright.
In Germany toasting, not necessarily by words but usually just by touching each other’s drinking vessels, is usually a very closely observed part of drinking culture. In private company, no one should drink a sip of alcohol before having toasted every other person at the table. In doing this, it is very important to look directly into the other drinker’s eyes.
Not practicing this is considered rude and In many cultures, toasting is common and to not do so may be a breach of etiquette. The general theme of the common brief toast is “good luck” or “good health.” At formal meals in certain countries of the Commonwealth of Nations, the first toast to be proposed is traditionally the Loyal toast (“The queen”). This may be adapted in other countries to give a loyal toast to the appropriate Head of state.
Some of he toast from different Languages
- Arabic: “بصحتك” (be ṣaḥtak, for your health)
- English: “Cheers”, “Skoal”, “Bottom’s up”
- Filipino: “Mabuhay” (to life)
- French: “Tchin Tchin” (onomatopoeic for clinking of glasses) or “Santé” (health) or “cul sec” (lit. “dry bottom”, to drink the whole glass in one go). and so on.
Toast for you all, and thank you for reading. May God bless you and make you complete with peace of mind and health. Cheers.
Steve Ramsey ,PhD
Calgary, Alberta, Canada .