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Tuesday 2 October 2018

The origin of the toast and clinking of glasses

Proposing a toast dates back to religious rituals practiced by the ancient Greeks, where at ceremonial meals they poured out drinks for both their gods and the dead. A vessel of wine would then be lifted in the direction of a member of the dinner party and the words "It is to you" would be said. The container was then handed to whoever had been toasted to drink from. 

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Also in ancient Rome, a piece of toasted bread was dropped into the wine to draw out bad flavors. Over time an important guest would become thought of figuratively as the "toast" as it was believed his presence improved the taste of the wine. By the Middle Ages the word "toast" came to describe drinking to one's good health.

The custom of the clinking of glasses dates back to when some feared that one of the effects of inebriation was an evil spirit might enter their body. So before partaking of the alcoholic drink, a loud noise would be made first in order to frighten it off. 

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Later during the ancient Greek and Roman era people would frequently attempt to poison their enemies, so drinking vessels would be crashed together in such a way that a little of both drinks spilled into each other, thus any potential poison could end up in the poisoner's glass. Over time this evolved into a custom whereby guests and hosts would demonstrate their friendship for each other by touching, or clinking glasses.

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