The Moguls did it. So did the Vikings. “A mouth of a superbly happy man is crammed with beer.” Once coining that phrase, you don’t assume this anonymous Egyptian from 2200 BC kept it to himself. I can see him raise his drinking vessel to his Nile-side neighbors while repeating the words.
Each country in the globe has some sort of ancient drinking toast, typically dozens. Typically one or 2 words, common toasts don't seem to be in the same league with toasts to the bride (which can drone on for hours), or to the retiree who’s been with us for 30 years but would rather get to his food while it’s hot. All of these very should be briefer, particularly if a meal is being served. The everyday, no black tie, corner pub toasts exist in each culture and also the overwhelming majority merely mean ‘I wish you sensible health’. Not surprisingly it is the English who have strayed from the norm. ‘Cheers’, ‘Down the Hatch’, ‘Bottoms up’ and many more. I continuously assumed the latter remarked the bottom of the glass, but the Hawaiians have taken this literally. ‘Okole Maluna’ suggests that ‘buttocks up’. I am including a list of multi-national toasts to impress your friends and use as an indication of respect when in the company of people from totally different cultures.
Here’s a bit of etiquette to travel along with your cosmopolitan language skills. It's customary to toast the first round, and let the host go first. There is some controversy over the clinking of glasses. It is said that the tradition started as a sly means to check the authenticity of the host’s crystal. Whether the Vikings clinked picket goblets or not, it is considered more civilized to ‘bit glasses’ instead of bash together in an exceedingly resounding crash. And while you’re regarding it, serve on the left and remove from the proper!
Toasts From Many Lands
This is simply a sampling of easy drinking toasts from around the world. Some are not possible to search out in language dictionaries as they're colloquial phrases, slang or in dialect. I apologize in advance for spelling mistakes: I’m no linguist. Meanings are included after I could realize them. Fill in the blanks if you can. Some are simply a general ‘cheers’. If you were making a bet on doable translation, you wouldn’t lose cash by suggesting that every one of these toasts is wishing the recipient continued health and general well being. My spell check is about to travel wild!
za vashe zdorovye (Russian)
slainte duine a ol (Irish) to your health
genatzt (Armenian)
a sua saude (Portuguese) good health
a votre sante (French) to your health
banzai (long life) (Japanese)or
kanpai (dry glass!) (Japanese)
bud mo (Ukranian)
cin cin (chin chin) (cheers) (Italian) or
alla salute (in good health) (Italian)
proost (Dutch) cheers
vivat (Polish) revival, survival
tervist (Estonian) general greeting
skal (Danish) cheers
here’s looking at you (kid, optional) (Yankee/Bogart)
kia ora (Maori) all purpose greeting
egeszsegedre (Hungarian) to your health
Iechyd da (Welsh) good health
I sveikas (Lithuanian) your health
kippis (Finnish) cheers
le’chaim (Jewish) to life
na zdravi (Czech) to your health
noroc (Romanian)
prosit (German) here’s to you (and your health after all)
wen lie (Chinese)
salud (Spanish)
bahkt tu kel (Romany/Gypsy) smart luck and health be on you
Here it's people - oogy wawa (Zulu)
(wawa suggests that ‘fell’, oogy wasn’t listed, any ideas?)
We tend to ought to all feel well cheered and healthy after all that!
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