Q: Where does the tradition of toasting come from?
A: Toasting has a long history in many cultures. Most people believe it originated in ancient Greece because people had a habit of spiking drinks with poison. A toast was a sign of good faith.
The term “toast” is thought to have originated from the Roman practice of putting a piece of burnt bread in a goblet of wine to mellow the flavor. In Olde England, a piece of toasted bread was put in the bottom of a tankard, and you were supposed to drink until you got to it.
Many theories exist to explain the tradition of clinking glasses together. One theory, possibly stemming from the Greek habit of poisoning drinks, says you could slosh some of the poison in your drink back into the drink of the person who poisoned yours. Another theory says the clinking noise drives away evil spirits because the devil can’t tolerate bell-like sounds.
Yet another theory says that a good glass of wine or champagne appeals to the senses of sight, touch, taste and smell. By clinking glasses, it also appeals to the sense of sound, making it an all-encompassing experience.
Cheers!
– By Kelly Savio, Staff Writer
Source: Hilka Klinkenberg of www.eventwiseonline.com
