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Travels: Raise Your Glass and Toast

Did you ever think how the custom of raising your glass and toasting another person came about? Or do you just hold up your glass and say ‘cheers’ or ‘salute’ or some other phrase or word?

Here are some things, some etiquette, and some strange facts I read from a couple of other posts…

Toasting apparently came from the Latin word tostus, which means parched or roasted. The Roman custom was to throw a piece of charred and spiced bread into the vessel of wine to improve the taste of the wine. Hmmm…

At a party, the host or hostess is supposed to be the first one to toast the guest of honor. If, of course, there is a guest of honor.

If you are the guest of honor, you aren’t supposed to drink to yourself.

When you toast another person, always look them in the eye. Otherwise you might gain seven years of bad luck.

Since I’m of Norwegian heritage I thought maybe I’d learn why the Scandinavians say skol when toasting. Apparently, it comes from the word for skull. And, at one time that was a popular drinking vessel. Yuk…

The Greeks would have the host drink from the communal pitcher first to show it was good wine.

Clinking glasses means scaring away evil spirits, according to some legends. Others say it is to offer a personal touch.

Use the best wine for toasting…when everyone still can taste the quality.

Cheers!