Salut! Cheers! Prost! Nastrovia! These are all things we say as we “clink” our glasses together after a toast; but what do they mean? Why do we say them, and why do we call it a toast?
This tradition can be traced back to ancient times where a majority of disputes, mainly political, were solved with poison. In ancient Greece, the host would pour their glass first from a single decanter, and the guest would then feel comfortable enough to take a sip. Talk about a hostile work environment!
In Roman times they actually put burnt toast into their glass to absorb the acidity. This practice won’t likely save you from the hemlock, but it will make the wine more palatable. This tradition then carried on to England. This is why we call it “a toast.”
The clinking of the glasses comes from a similar concept. The guest would pour a bit of their wine into the host’s cup to ensure they weren’t getting anything “extra” in their drink. This definitely gives new meaning to “drinking to your health!” This tradition then turned into a more symbolic gesture of just a “clink,” possibly after they found easier ways to kill each other. Another theory is that the sound of the “clink” would scare the evil “sprits” away.
So the next time you have to give a toast. Put up your glass, drink to your health, and be thankful your host doesn’t want your head!
(Giving credit to “the Toast” by Joe Kissel)
Post your favorite toasting traditions in the comments!
{ 2 comments }
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Sláinte – An Irish toast. Means “Health”…..
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