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{{Articleissues|article=y|unreferenced=August 2007|prose=September 2008}}
{{Infobox actor
{{otheruses|Toast (disambiguation)}}
| name = Jennifer Coolidge
[[Image:PS Krøyer - Hip hip hurra! Kunstnerfest på Skagen 1888.jpg|thumb|333px|''[[Cheering|Hip hip hooray]]! Artists celebrating at Skagen'' by Danish painter [[P.S. Krøyer]], 1888]]
| image = Jennifer Coolidge.JPG
A '''toast''' is someone or something in [[honor]] of which people usually have a drink, the drink or honor itself, or the act ([[pledge]]) of indicating that honor.
| imagecaption = Jennifer Coolidge in 2005
| imagesize = 200px
| birthdate = {{birth date and age|1963|8|28}}
| birthplace = [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], [[U.S.]]
| alias =
| occupation(s) = [[actor|actress]]
| awards = '''[[Teen Choice Award]]''' for Choice Movie Sleazebag<br>2004 ''[[A Cinderella Story]]''
|URL = [http://www.jennifercoolidge.com www.jennifercoolidge.com]
}}


For example, a person could be "the toast of the evening", for whom someone "proposes a toast" to congratulate and for whom a third person "toasts" in agreement.
'''Jennifer Coolidge''' (born [[August 28]], [[1963]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[Actor|actress]] best known for playing "Stifler's mom", the consummate "[[MILF]]", in the film ''[[American Pie (film)|American Pie]]'' (1999), [[Hilary Duff]]'s stepmother in ''[[A Cinderella Story]]'' (2004), Paulette, the [[manicurist]] in ''[[Legally Blonde]]'' (2001) and its sequel, and the voice of Aunt Fanny in the animated feature ''[[Robots (film)|Robots]]'' (2005). She also appeared on the episode "Dial M for Provenza" of the TNT Series [[The Closer]] as Ms. Anush "Angie" Serabian, a slow-witted blonde who tried to put a hit on her husband with the help of Lt. Provenza ([[G. W. Bailey]]) (posing as a Hitman).


The toast as described here is rooted in [[Western culture]], but certain cultures outside that sphere have their own traditions in which consuming a drink is connected with ideas of celebration and honor.
==Biography==
===Personal life===
Coolidge was born in [[Boston, Massachusetts]], the daughter of Paul Coolidge, a plastics manufacturer.<ref>[http://www.filmreference.com/film/58/Jennifer-Coolidge.html Jennifer Coolidge Biography (1963-)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> She was raised in Boston and has a sister, Suzanne. Coolidge attended [[Norwell High School]] and [[Emerson College]] in Boston. She has dated actor [[Chris Kattan]] and currently dates writer Banks McClintock.<ref>[http://www.tvguide.com/detail/celebrity.aspx?tvobjectid=156591&more=ucCelebInfo Jennifer Coolidge Biography | TVGuide.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> She is 5'10" (1.78 m) tall.


The description that follows explains the process of the toast in detail, including toasts that are of the more formal variety. However, merely raising one's glass towards someone or something and then drinking is essentially a toast as well, the message being one of goodwill towards the person or thing indicated.
===Career===
Coolidge is known for her supporting roles in many comedy movies and guest spots on television. She is best known for playing "[[Janine Stifler|Stifler's mom]]", the consummate "[[Wiktionary:MILF|MILF]]", in the ''[[American Pie (film)|American Pie]]'' [[film]]s, though she is also known for supporting parts in other films, including [[Hilary Duff]]'s stepmother in ''[[A Cinderella Story]]'', Paulette, the manicurist in ''[[Legally Blonde]]'' and [[Legally Blonde 2|its sequel]], and the voice of Aunt Fanny in the animated feature ''[[Robots (movie)|Robots]]''.


== History ==
She has played comic parts in the [[mockumentary|mockumentaries]] ''[[Best in Show (film)|Best in Show]]'', ''[[A Mighty Wind]]'', and ''[[For Your Consideration (film)|For Your Consideration]]'' directed by [[Christopher Guest]]. She also appeared in the 2006 film ''[[Date Movie]]'' as a spoof of [[Barbra Streisand]]'s ''[[Meet the Fockers]]'' character. ''[[Epic Movie]]'', the first movie she had a starring role in, released in 2007 and was made by the same people behind ''Date Movie''; in it, she played the "White Bitch" (the White Witch) of Gnarnia (Narnia), a lampoon of the Disney and Walden Media film ''The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe''.


The practice of toasting originated in [[Ancient Greece]], at a time when fear of poisoning was a significant concern. To put guests at ease, the host would pour the guests' wine from a common decanter, take the first drink to demonstrate its safety, then raise his cup to the guests and invite them to drink in good health.{{Fact|date=August 2007}}
Coolidge had a regular role in the NBC sitcom ''[[Joey (sitcom)|Joey]]'' as Joey's agent, appearing in 37 out of 46 episodes in the series. She originally starred in an episode of ''[[Friends]]'' in its final season as Amanda, a tactless and uninhibited wannabe whom Phoebe and Monica try to shake off. Prior to her ''Friends'' appearance she was a regular on ''She TV'', a very short-lived [[sketch comedy]] that also featured [[Nick Bakay]], [[Elon Gold]], [[Simbi Khali]], and [[Linda Kash]]. She also has appeared on ''[[According to Jim]]'', playing Jim's sister and in an episode of ''[[Sex and the City]]'', and on [[Frasier]] as Frederica, [[Martin Crane]]'s new physical therapist. Coolidge also appeared in the kiddie comedy ''Slappy and the Stinkers'' and as [[Adam Sandler]]'s wife's friend, Janine, in the 2006 comedy film ''[[Click (film)|Click]]''.
The custom of touching glasses also eased concerns about poisoning, since clinking glasses together would cause each drink to spill over into the others.


The word 'toast' became associated with the custom in the 17th century, based on a custom of flavoring drinks with spiced [[toast]]. The word originally referred to the lady in whose honor the drink was proposed, her name being seen as figuratively flavoring the drink.<ref>{{cite web
Coolidge made one of her first appearances in the ''[[Seinfeld]]'' episode "[[The Masseuse (Seinfeld episode)|The Masseuse]]". She also had a recurring role on ''[[King of the Hill]]'' as [[Luanne Platter|Luanne's]] beauty school teacher, Miss Kremzer. In 2006, she guest starred on an episode of ''[[Top Chef]]''.
|title=toast
|Dictionary.com
|work=Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
|publisher=Random House, Inc
|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/toast
|accessdate=2007-08-25
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|title=toast
|work=Online Etymology Dictionary
|last=Harper
|first=Douglas
|year=2001
|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=toast&searchmode=term
|accessdate=2007-08-25
}}</ref><!-- should really cite a more authoritative source directly, but for the lack of anything better these indirect citations ought to do -->


==Components of toasting==
Most recently, Coolidge appeared on [[Thank God You're Here (US TV series)|Thank God You're Here]] and [[The Closer]], on [[Turner Network Television|TNT]]. In 2005, Coolidge was invited to join the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]].<ref>[http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2005/05.06.24.html Academy Invites 112 to Membership<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
{{fixHTML|beg}}
[[Image:Prost oktoberfest.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Toasting at [[Oktoberfest]]]]
The act of toasting consists of three parts: The verbal toast, the agreement, and imbibing a drink.


===Verbalization===
In 2008, she guest starred on [[The Secret Life of the American Teenager]] as a [[call girl]].
*In the verbal part, one person states a reason for the toast. This can be as simple as "cheers!" or "here's to good friends" or as complex as a conveying an [[anecdote]] followed by a statement of goodwill such as "wishing both of you a marriage that lasts forever".
*At formal meals in the [[United Kingdom]] and elsewhere in the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]], the first toast to be proposed is traditionally the [[Loyal Toast]] ("[[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|The Queen]]"). This may be adapted in other countries to give a loyal toast to the appropriate [[Head of State]].


==Filmography==
===Agreement===
*People joining in the toast signify their agreement by lifting their drinks into the air, often accompanied by shouted or murmured sounds of agreement, either repeating the toast word (e.g., "cheers!") or confirming the sentiment with terms such as [[Hear hear|"Hear! Hear!"]], and often followed by touching one's [[drinkware]] against those of everyone else within reach.
===Films===
*The principal part of this agreement, that of raising glasses, actually precedes the verbal element in many cases. This is the case when someone announces "raise your glass for a toast" and people do so. The person contributing the verbal element may then wait until everyone is in position before making a statement.
{| class="wikitable"
*One instance which specifically precludes a verbal agreement element is in the case of the "Immortal Memory" toast, traditionally drunk on [[Trafalgar Day]] at the [[Royal Navy]] dinner aboard the [[HMS Victory]] to the memory of [[Admiral]] [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Lord Nelson]]. This toast is made standing in total silence. The words of the toast itself, "The Immortal Memory", are said following a "Nelsonian" anecdote.
|-
*Other "silent toasts" may be solemnly made without verbal agreement or touching glasses. This is appropriate for honoring a recently departed friend or a fallen hero.
! Year !! Film !! Role !! Notes
*In many cultures, [[etiquette]] suggests that when two people touch glasses while toasting they make [[eye contact]] at the same time. Not looking into another's eye during a toast may signify a lack of trust and is said to bring seven years of bad luck.{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Trial and Error (film)|Trial and Error]]'' || Jacqueline 'Jackie' Turreau ||
|-
|rowspan=2| 1998 || ''[[A Night at the Roxbury]]'' || Hottie Cop ||
|-
| ''[[Brown's Requiem (film)|Brown's Requiem]]'' || Helen ||
|-
|rowspan=2| 1999 || ''[[American Pie (film)|American Pie]]'' || Jeanine Stifler ||
|-
| ''[[Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me]]'' || Woman at Football Game ||
|-
|rowspan=2| 2000 || ''[[Best in Show (film)|Best in Show]]'' || Sherri Ann Ward Cabot ||
|-
| ''[[Broken Hearts Club]]'' || Betty ||
|-
|rowspan=5| 2001 || ''[[American Pie 2]]'' || Jeanine Stifler ||
|-
| ''[[Legally Blonde]]'' || Paulette Bonafonté ||
|-
| ''[[Pootie Tang]]'' || Ireenie ||
|-
| ''[[Down to Earth (2001 film)|Down To Earth]]'' || Mrs. Wellington ||
|-
| ''[[Zoolander]]'' || American Designer ||
|-
|rowspan=5| 2003 || ''[[American Wedding]]'' || Jeanine Stifler ||
|-
| ''[[Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde]]'' || Paulette ||
|-
| ''[[A Mighty Wind]]'' || Amber Cole ||
|-
| ''[[Carolina (film)|Carolina]]'' || Aunt Marilyn ||
|-
| ''Testosterone'' || Louise ||
|-
|rowspan=2| 2004 || ''[[Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' || White Faced Woman ||
|-
| ''[[A Cinderella Story]]'' || Fiona ||
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Robots (film)|Robots]]'' || Aunt Fanny (voice) ||
|-
|rowspan=4| 2006 || ''[[Click (film)|Click]]'' || Janine ||
|-
| ''[[American Dreamz]]'' || Martha Kendoo ||
|-
| ''[[Date Movie]]'' || Roz Funkyerdoder ||
|-
| ''[[For Your Consideration (film)|For Your Consideration]]'' || Whitney Taylor Brown ||
|-
|rowspan=1| 2007 || ''[[Epic Movie]]'' || White Bitch ||
|-
|rowspan=7| 2008 || ''[[Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief]]'' || Daisy (voice) ||
|-
| ''[[Igor (film)|Igor]]'' || Jaclyn (voice) ||
|-
| ''Foreign Exchange'' || Katie Lonnatini || ''awaiting release''
|-
| ''The Last Stan'' || Helen || ''awaiting release''
|-
| ''[[Soul Men (film)|Soul Men]]'' || TBA || ''post-production''
|-
| ''[[Living Proof (film)|Living Proof]]'' || Tish || ''post-production''
|-
| ''Ex-Terminators'' || Stella || ''post-production''
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2009 || ''Gentlemen Broncos'' || TBA || ''post-production''
|-
| ''[[Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans]]'' || TBA || ''post-production''
|}


===Television===
===Imbibing===
*Imbibing a drink "seals" the toast. This can be a quick sip or a long draft, with no particular emphasis indicated either way in most cultures. However, in some cases (such as toasting with small glasses of [[vodka]] in [[Russia]] or certain [[Scandinavia]]n countries) there is an expectation that one drain the glass. In Japan, Korea, and China, traditional liquors like gaoliang and [[soju]] are consumed from small glasses, and it is common to toast with "Kanpai" ([[Japan]]) or "Ganbei" ([[China]] and [[Taiwan]]) which literally means "dry glass." Thus downing the entire drink is appropriate after these toasts.
{| class="wikitable"
*Placing one's glass down without drinking or holding one's glass without drinking while becoming distracted by some other activity is impolite. If a person does this willfully, it demonstrates that they do ''not'' agree with the toast for some reason (e.g., it was inappropriately ribald or advocated a political cause with which the person strongly disagrees). This negates the agreement previously indicted by the having one's glass raised.
|-
*Many consider it bad luck to toast with an empty glass.
! Year !! Film !! Role !! Episode

|-
==Beverage choice==
| 1993 || ''[[Seinfeld]]'' || Jody || ''[[The Masseuse (Seinfeld)|The Masseuse]]''
*Toasting traditionally involves [[alcoholic beverages]]. [[Champagne (wine)|Champagne]] (or at least some variety of [[sparkling wine]]) is regarded as especially festive and is widely associated with [[New Year's Eve]] and situations of a sudden, congratulatory nature (such as learning that one has gained a lucrative business contract).
|-
*There is no requirement that beverages contain alcohol, but it isn't uncommon for a person who is not drinking alcohol on a given occasion (but who is not a [[Teetotalism|teetotaler]]) to take just a sip of an alcoholic beverage in honor of the toast in preference to a [[soft drink]].
| 1994 || ''SheTV'' || Various ||
*Often, different participants have different drinks, such as when some people drink [[sparkling cider]] instead of sparkling wine.
|-
*It is a tradition in the [[United States Navy]] that a toast is never to be made with water, this being said to indicate that the person so honored will be doomed to a watery grave. In general, toasting with water is regarded as bad luck by some and as insufficiently festive by others.
| 2001 || ''[[Frasier]]'' || Frederica || ''[[Forgotten But Not Gone]]''
*During a [[United States Air Force]] [[Dining In]], all toasts are traditionally made with wine except for the final toast of the night made in honor of [[Prisoner of war|POWs]]/[[Missing in action|MIAs]]; because these honorees did not have the luxury of wine while in captivity, the toast is made with water.
|-

|rowspan=2| 2003 || ''[[Sex and the City]]'' || Victoria || ''The Perfect Present''
==Situations==
|-
Examples of traditional places for toasts include the following:
| ''[[Friends]]'' || Amanda Buffamonteezi || ''[[The One with Ross's Tan]]''
*At a [[wedding reception]], the [[best man]] usually proposes a toast in the form of best wishes and congratulations to the newlyweds.
|-
*In [[Christmas]] celebrations in the [[United Kingdom]] and closely connected cultures, drinking [[wassail]] involves giving a toast to the season and often floating a piece of toasted bread in one's cup (the term "toast" may come from this practice). The wassail toast is almost unknown in the United States.
| 2003-2004 || ''[[According to Jim]]'' || Roxanne || ''Vegas, Baby: Part 1''; ''Vegas, Baby: Part 2''; ''The Baby''

|-
==Worldwide==
| 2004 || ''[[Father of the Pride]]'' || Tracy (voice) || ''And the Revolution Continues''
In many cultures, toasting is common and to not do so may be a breach of etiquette. The most common toasts either have "good luck" or "good health" as the one-word theme. Examples include:
|-

| 2004 - 2006 || ''[[Joey (TV series)|Joey]]'' || Bobbie Morganstern || series regular
* "Aish Karo" (Enjoy) ([[India]])
|-
* "Аз жаргал хүсье" (Wish you happiness), ([[Mongolia]])
| 2007 || ''[[Nip/Tuck]]'' || Candy Richards || ''Candy Richards''; ''Carly Summers''
* "Ваше здоровье" (To health) ([[Russia]])
|-
* "بصحتك" (To health) ([[Arabic]] and [[Arab]])
|rowspan=2| 2008 || ''[[The Closer]]'' || Angie Serabian || ''Dial M for Provenza''
* "به سلامتی" (Beh Salamati) ([[Iran]])
|-
* "Cheers" (Thank you) ([[United Kingdom]] and [[United States]])
| ''[[The Secret Life of the American Teenager]]'' || Betty || ''Slice of Life''
* "Ձեր կենացը՜" (To you) ([[Armenia]])
|}
* "Egészségedre" (To good health) ([[Hungary]])
* "Eviva" ([[Maltese]])
* "Geiá mas" (Our health) ([[Greece]])
* "Gesondheid" (To good health) ([[South Africa]]n [[Afrikaans]])
* "Gan Bei" (Dry the cup/glass) ([[China]])
* "На здравје" (To good health) ([[Republic of Macedonia]])
* "Na zdravlje" (To good health) & "Živjeli" (To life) ([[Bosnia and Herzegovina]])
* "На здраве" (To good health) ([[Bulgaria]])
* "Iechyd Da" ([[Wales]])
* "Kanpai" ([[Japan]])
* "Terviseks" (For health) ([[Estonia]])
* "Kippis" ([[Finland]])
* "לחיים" ("L'Chayim") ("To life") ([[Israel]] and [[Jewish]])
* "Noroc" (Good luck) ([[Romania]])
* "Proost") ([[The Netherlands]])
* "Prost" ([[Germany]] and [[Austria]])
* "Pura vida" ([[Costa Rica]])
* "Salahmatie" or "Be salahmatie" (Persian (Farsi), [[Iran]])
* "Schol" ([[Flanders]])
* "Skál" ([[Iceland]])
* "Skål" ([[Denmark]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]])
* "Santé" (To health) ([[France]] and [[Québec]])
* "Sláinte" ([[Ireland]] and [[Scots Gaelic]] speaking places)
* "Salute" or "Cin cin" (To health) ([[Italy]])
* "Saúde" ([[Portugal]] and [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] speaking places)
* "Salud" or "Salut" (Health) ([[Spain]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]] speaking places)
* "건배" (Geonbae) or "위하여" (Wihayeo) ([[Korea]])
* "Na zdraví" (To health) ([[Czech Republic]])
* "Na zdravie" (To health) ([[Slovakia]])
* "Na zdrowie" ([[Poland]])
* "За вас" (To you) ([[Russia]])
* "Şerefe" (To honor) ([[Turkey]])
* "Salut" ([[Catalan language|Catalan]])
* "Saliq" ([[Azerbaijan]])
* "Letenachin" ([[Ethiopia]])
* "Živjeli" (To life/health) ([[Croatia]])
* "Sǎnǎtate!" (To good health) ([[Romania]])
* "Topa" (To health) ([[Basque Country (historical territory)|Basque]])
* "Į sveikatą" (To health) ([[Lithuania]])
* "Chin Chin" (The sound made by the cups) ([[Argentina]])

===Canada & Britain===
{{Original research|date=September 2007}}

*Most people will lightly touch glasses when giving a toast "cheers" or a short phrase to someone or something. In some groups toasting without touching glasses is increasingly popular and is regarded by some as a slightly more sophisticated mode of behavior. In other groups toasting without touching glasses is considered rude, as if you are not one of the group and have no desire to be. The notable exception to this is at large parties where touching everyone's glass is almost impossible.
*Except during formal occasions such as a wedding or an anniversary party for which a [[function hall]] has been rented, it is not very common to "propose a toast" in the more formal sense. However, when someone does make such a gesture, it is almost invariably met with approval regardless of the setting or the occasion.

===The Caucasus===
Among the peoples of [[Caucasus]], [[Georgian people|Georgians]] and [[Armenian people|Armenians]] in particular, toasts are a matter of elaborate traditions and rituals, with toasting speeches being an important type of the folk tradition. Usually a toast speech starts with a kind of [[parable]] or [[metaphor]] and concludes with a [[Punch line|punchline]] constituting the actual toast. The most artful toast is one in which the topic of the parable is apparently unrelated to the occasion of the moment but whose conclusion most unexpectedly fits the occasion. This is a short but typical example:

<blockquote>"A bird spotted a glittering necklace in the King's treasury and stole it away. Happy, it flew very high, higher than the highest mountains. Suddenly a gust of wind tore the necklace's string, and the precious gems scattered all over the world... It is a great luck that one of them landed by our table today. Cheers to Maria!"</blockquote>

==See also==
* [[Libation]]
* [[Loyal Toast]]
* [[Toasts of the Royal Navy]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
2008- Secret Life of the American Teenager


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.bier-lexikon.lauftext.de/prost-3.htm Make a toast in 50 other languages]
{{Commonscat|Jennifer Coolidge}}
*[http://www.toastsbook.com Toasts by Paul Dickson, www.toastsbook.com]
*{{imdb name|id=0177639|name=Jennifer Coolidge}}
*[http://www.jennifer-coolidge.com Jennifer Coolidge] Fansite
*[http://www.easyweddingtoasts.com Wedding Toasts and Speeches]
*[http://www.TastefulToasts.com Tasteful Toasts by Michael Varma]
*[http://www.canada.com/topics/entertainment/tiff/story.html?id=43703c13-4bac-489f-ada2-66c31c90d4df&k=26720 An interview with Jennifer Coolidge by Maurie Sherman]
[[Category:Drinking culture]]
*[http://nantucket.plumtv.com/videos/jennifer_coolidge Interview: Jennifer Coolidge Supporting the Nantucket AIDS Network] on [[Plum TV]]
[[Category:Ceremonial food and drink]]

[[Category:Etiquette]]
{{American Pie}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coolidge, Jennifer}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:American film actors]]
[[Category:American television actors]]
[[Category:Emerson College alumni]]
[[Category:Groundlings]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Massachusetts actors]]
[[Category:People from Boston, Massachusetts]]


[[da:Prosit]]
[[ar:جينيفر كوليدج]]
[[cs:Jennifer Coolidge]]
[[de:Prosit]]
[[da:Jennifer Coolidge]]
[[es:Brindis]]
[[de:Jennifer Coolidge]]
[[fr:Trinquer]]
[[fr:Jennifer Coolidge]]
[[it:Prosit]]
[[it:Jennifer Coolidge]]
[[he:הרמת כוסית]]
[[ms:Jennifer Coolidge]]
[[nl:Proosten]]
[[nl:Jennifer Coolidge]]
[[ja:乾杯]]
[[pl:Toast]]
[[ja:ジェニファー・クーリッジ]]
[[no:Jennifer Coolidge]]
[[ru:Тост]]
[[pl:Jennifer Coolidge]]
[[sv:Skål (gest)]]
[[pt:Jennifer Coolidge]]
[[vi:Lời chúc rượu]]
[[fi:Jennifer Coolidge]]
[[uk:Тост]]
[[sv:Jennifer Coolidge]]
[[yi:לחיים]]
[[zh:敬酒]]

Revision as of 16:18, 13 October 2008

For other uses, see Toast (disambiguation).
Hip hip hooray! Artists celebrating at Skagen by Danish painter P.S. Krøyer, 1888

A toast is someone or something in honor of which people usually have a drink, the drink or honor itself, or the act (pledge) of indicating that honor.

For example, a person could be "the toast of the evening", for whom someone "proposes a toast" to congratulate and for whom a third person "toasts" in agreement.

The toast as described here is rooted in Western culture, but certain cultures outside that sphere have their own traditions in which consuming a drink is connected with ideas of celebration and honor.

The description that follows explains the process of the toast in detail, including toasts that are of the more formal variety. However, merely raising one's glass towards someone or something and then drinking is essentially a toast as well, the message being one of goodwill towards the person or thing indicated.

History

The practice of toasting originated in Ancient Greece, at a time when fear of poisoning was a significant concern. To put guests at ease, the host would pour the guests' wine from a common decanter, take the first drink to demonstrate its safety, then raise his cup to the guests and invite them to drink in good health.[citation needed] The custom of touching glasses also eased concerns about poisoning, since clinking glasses together would cause each drink to spill over into the others.

The word 'toast' became associated with the custom in the 17th century, based on a custom of flavoring drinks with spiced toast. The word originally referred to the lady in whose honor the drink was proposed, her name being seen as figuratively flavoring the drink.[1][2]

Components of toasting

Template:FixHTML

Toasting at Oktoberfest

The act of toasting consists of three parts: The verbal toast, the agreement, and imbibing a drink.

Verbalization

  • In the verbal part, one person states a reason for the toast. This can be as simple as "cheers!" or "here's to good friends" or as complex as a conveying an anecdote followed by a statement of goodwill such as "wishing both of you a marriage that lasts forever".
  • At formal meals in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the Commonwealth, the first toast to be proposed is traditionally the Loyal Toast ("The Queen"). This may be adapted in other countries to give a loyal toast to the appropriate Head of State.

Agreement

  • People joining in the toast signify their agreement by lifting their drinks into the air, often accompanied by shouted or murmured sounds of agreement, either repeating the toast word (e.g., "cheers!") or confirming the sentiment with terms such as "Hear! Hear!", and often followed by touching one's drinkware against those of everyone else within reach.
  • The principal part of this agreement, that of raising glasses, actually precedes the verbal element in many cases. This is the case when someone announces "raise your glass for a toast" and people do so. The person contributing the verbal element may then wait until everyone is in position before making a statement.
  • One instance which specifically precludes a verbal agreement element is in the case of the "Immortal Memory" toast, traditionally drunk on Trafalgar Day at the Royal Navy dinner aboard the HMS Victory to the memory of Admiral Lord Nelson. This toast is made standing in total silence. The words of the toast itself, "The Immortal Memory", are said following a "Nelsonian" anecdote.
  • Other "silent toasts" may be solemnly made without verbal agreement or touching glasses. This is appropriate for honoring a recently departed friend or a fallen hero.
  • In many cultures, etiquette suggests that when two people touch glasses while toasting they make eye contact at the same time. Not looking into another's eye during a toast may signify a lack of trust and is said to bring seven years of bad luck.[citation needed]

Imbibing

  • Imbibing a drink "seals" the toast. This can be a quick sip or a long draft, with no particular emphasis indicated either way in most cultures. However, in some cases (such as toasting with small glasses of vodka in Russia or certain Scandinavian countries) there is an expectation that one drain the glass. In Japan, Korea, and China, traditional liquors like gaoliang and soju are consumed from small glasses, and it is common to toast with "Kanpai" (Japan) or "Ganbei" (China and Taiwan) which literally means "dry glass." Thus downing the entire drink is appropriate after these toasts.
  • Placing one's glass down without drinking or holding one's glass without drinking while becoming distracted by some other activity is impolite. If a person does this willfully, it demonstrates that they do not agree with the toast for some reason (e.g., it was inappropriately ribald or advocated a political cause with which the person strongly disagrees). This negates the agreement previously indicted by the having one's glass raised.
  • Many consider it bad luck to toast with an empty glass.

Beverage choice

  • Toasting traditionally involves alcoholic beverages. Champagne (or at least some variety of sparkling wine) is regarded as especially festive and is widely associated with New Year's Eve and situations of a sudden, congratulatory nature (such as learning that one has gained a lucrative business contract).
  • There is no requirement that beverages contain alcohol, but it isn't uncommon for a person who is not drinking alcohol on a given occasion (but who is not a teetotaler) to take just a sip of an alcoholic beverage in honor of the toast in preference to a soft drink.
  • Often, different participants have different drinks, such as when some people drink sparkling cider instead of sparkling wine.
  • It is a tradition in the United States Navy that a toast is never to be made with water, this being said to indicate that the person so honored will be doomed to a watery grave. In general, toasting with water is regarded as bad luck by some and as insufficiently festive by others.
  • During a United States Air Force Dining In, all toasts are traditionally made with wine except for the final toast of the night made in honor of POWs/MIAs; because these honorees did not have the luxury of wine while in captivity, the toast is made with water.

Situations

Examples of traditional places for toasts include the following:

  • At a wedding reception, the best man usually proposes a toast in the form of best wishes and congratulations to the newlyweds.
  • In Christmas celebrations in the United Kingdom and closely connected cultures, drinking wassail involves giving a toast to the season and often floating a piece of toasted bread in one's cup (the term "toast" may come from this practice). The wassail toast is almost unknown in the United States.

Worldwide

In many cultures, toasting is common and to not do so may be a breach of etiquette. The most common toasts either have "good luck" or "good health" as the one-word theme. Examples include:

Canada & Britain

  • Most people will lightly touch glasses when giving a toast "cheers" or a short phrase to someone or something. In some groups toasting without touching glasses is increasingly popular and is regarded by some as a slightly more sophisticated mode of behavior. In other groups toasting without touching glasses is considered rude, as if you are not one of the group and have no desire to be. The notable exception to this is at large parties where touching everyone's glass is almost impossible.
  • Except during formal occasions such as a wedding or an anniversary party for which a function hall has been rented, it is not very common to "propose a toast" in the more formal sense. However, when someone does make such a gesture, it is almost invariably met with approval regardless of the setting or the occasion.

The Caucasus

Among the peoples of Caucasus, Georgians and Armenians in particular, toasts are a matter of elaborate traditions and rituals, with toasting speeches being an important type of the folk tradition. Usually a toast speech starts with a kind of parable or metaphor and concludes with a punchline constituting the actual toast. The most artful toast is one in which the topic of the parable is apparently unrelated to the occasion of the moment but whose conclusion most unexpectedly fits the occasion. This is a short but typical example:

"A bird spotted a glittering necklace in the King's treasury and stole it away. Happy, it flew very high, higher than the highest mountains. Suddenly a gust of wind tore the necklace's string, and the precious gems scattered all over the world... It is a great luck that one of them landed by our table today. Cheers to Maria!"

See also

References

  1. ^ "toast". Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. Retrieved 2007-08-25. {{cite web}}: Text "Dictionary.com" ignored (help)
  2. ^ Harper, Douglas (2001). "toast". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 2007-08-25.

External links

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