Here's To You!
By Kaira Headrick
In the spirit of celebrated honor, a well made toast is the signature moment that hails the unified "good wish" amongst family, friends and loved ones.
This tradition of expression can be just a few short words and may be sentimental, encouraging, endearing or even comic in delivery, but it is always a heart-felt message of affection and tribute.
The reasons for toasting throughout history have changed and reflected the times. During the 17th century, it was believed that the bell-like sound made from clinging two glasses together would ward off the devil. Early Greek culture would toast as a gesture of good faith to one's health and as a sign that their company's drink was not poisoned. In a time where it was common practice to poison one's enemy as a means to an end, it became a sign of friendship when the host would pour a glass from a common pitcher, drink (proving no signs of poisoning), and then raise the "toast" to show for the guest to enjoy. It wasn't until the latter 17th century however, that the term "toast" or "toasting" came to pass. Stemming from the Roman culture, it was custom to place a piece of burnt bread, or toast, at the bottom of the wine goblet to improve its flavor. The goblet was passed and shared among guests, and the person to last drink would claim the "toast" at the bottom.
As toasting continued to mark its place in culture, the distinguished position of the "toastmaster" developed around the 18th century. It was the toastmaster's duty to propose and announce the toasts, as well as insuring all eager toasters were given the opportunity to speak. This artful tradition soon became commonplace among events and gatherings, so much so, that by the 19th century it had become the appropriate gesture of celebration and honor. British culture had deemed the toast an act of proper etiquette. To not raise your glass in honor of a guest was a clear sign of disapproval, disrespect or lack of breeding or character.
As years progressed, toasting remained the proper show of class and a sign of one's intellect and art of speech. Toasts were used to express feelings towards every imaginable institution, situation and political or social cause of the time. Some newspapers even had their own Toast Editor, responsible for choosing a winner of a monthly toast-writing contest. It was at this point where toasting may have been truly viewed as a part of our literary history. There are a number of notable quotes taken from the most intellectual of historical figures and even from the written words of endearing fictional characters.
One familiar toast, taken from the words of Lord Alfred Tennyson, often regarded as the chief representative of the Victorian age in poetry, states, "Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." Another well recognized toast comes from an endearing character out of A Christmas Carol, by author Charles Dickens. It is the fragile Tiny Tim that so sincerely says, "God bless us everyone."
Today, the practice of toasting is associated more with life's traditionally joyous celebrated events, like weddings, birthdays or bar/bat mitzvahs, graduations, etc. However, a toast is also considered apropos even at more pointed somber moments, such as when esteeming honor to a life lived or when praising the valiant efforts of a grave, but noble, undertaking or achievement. The toast itself may be in your own words or it may be a collaboration of a noted toast intertwined with your own. Either way, be it a short speech or just a few words, the message will come across. It may not be considered the "art form" as it once was, but the toast still remains to be considered the best method to simply state such deep feelings of admiration for the guest(s) of honor.
From all of us at Designing Home Lifestyles - "Here's to you!"
The English equivalents of "Cheers" or "Here's to you!" or "To your health" in other cultures...
- British - Cheers!
- Chinese - Wen Lie!
- French - Sante!
- German - Prosit!
- Greek - Yasas!
- Hawaiian - Meli kalikama!
- Irish - Slainte!
- Italian - Salute!
- Jewish - L'Chayim!
- Japanese - Banzai!
- Polish - Na Zdrowie!
- Russian - Na zdorovia!
- Spanish - Salud!
- Swedish - Skal!
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