Have you ever watched a movie and heard the
expression, “Here’s mud in your eye?” It sounds awful but it’s actually an
interesting way of wishing success or happiness to someone who is drinking with
the person making the wish. The history
of the phrase is complex, confused and disputed by a number of sources and so we
were unable to track back who first used the phrase.
This toast may have been popular with the soldiers
slogging through the muddy trenches of WWI, but it did not originate with them,
as many believe. Some say that back in the day the phrase symbolized a
plentiful crop when farmers used to raise a glass to the success of a good
harvest. It was being bandied about in
U.S. saloons as early as 1890 and was popular with the English fox hunting and
race horse crowd before then.
Although we are the AMERICAN Wine Society, we
recognize our world-wide brothers and sisters of the vine, so let’s have a drink
together! It’s said that the custom of the toast is deeply rooted in Western
culture, and particularly in Europe, where it’s been part of the heritage for
centuries. The first toasts between European kings in the Middle Ages sealed
post-war peace and solidarity; and Europe’s most important events have been
celebrated with toasts.
Cheers, Santé, Prost, Skål – those words hide interesting
tales. And they might just be the first words a foreigner learns when arriving
in another country…
Portugal - Saúde!
In the Middle Ages, poisoning was so common that
proposing a toast was the best way to exchange liquids between glasses to prove
they weren’t toxic. On such occasions, drinkers said “Saúde” to ensure that the
contents weren’t intended to be harmful. The Portuguese, as well as the
Spanish, the French and the Italians, kept this tradition and continue to drink
“to your health” even if there is no suggestion of anyone trying to poison
anyone else… we hope…
Spain – Salud ! – Chin Chin !
In Spain, people also drink to your health, but
sometimes with a much longer sentence, just as Salud y amor y tiempo para
disfrutarlo (“To health and love and time to enjoy it”). But ‘Salud’ is also
said when someone sneezes. In Spanish, the word “toast” is translated as
“brindis” which actually comes from the German expression “bring dich”,
meaning, “I offer it to you”. Is this a word of German origin in the Spanish
language? Again, wherever you look, you find the European spirit!
France and Belgium- Santé !
– A votre santé ! – Tchin Tchin !
“Tchin-Tchin”, the Chinese expression qing qing (or
tchin tchin, meaning “please-please” or “happy days”) was historically used in
China to invite people to drink. Soldiers coming back from the Second Opium War
introduced it into French. If you toast in France, you may also be interested
in knowing that the action of clinking glasses is translated in French with the
verb “trinquer”, which actually comes from the German verb for drinking
“trinken”. Again, those Germans…
Italy - Salute ! – Cin Cin !
Just as French people, the Italians say “cheers” in
two ways, “Salute” in an informal situation or “Cin cin” in a more formal
context. Some great Italian drinking toasts or cheers besides salute are “cento
di questi giorni” or “cent’ anni”. “Cento di questi giorni” means “May you have
a hundred of these days”, and “cent’ anni” means “a hundred years”.
United Kingdom - Cheers !
The word “cheer” comes from the Latin word for
“face” and originally referred to any facial expression, cheerful or otherwise.
Over time, though, it came to mean gladness and was first recorded as a shout
of encouragement or support in 1720. As a toast, “cheers” is an early
20th-century newcomer. As to why we tap glasses together, a few compelling
theories have made the rounds. In one, early Europeans believed that the sound
of clashing tankards would scare away evil spirits…
Ireland -Sláinte !
Sláinte is a word which literally translates as
“health” and is commonly used as a drinking toast in Ireland, Scotland and the
Isle of Man. The word is an abstract noun derived from the Old Irish adjective
slán “whole, healthy” plus the Old Irish suffix tu, resulting in slántu
“health” and eventually Middle Irish sláinte.
Nordics - Skål!
“Skål” is the Scandinavian word for “cheers” to
celebrate friendship and goodwill. The word may also be spelled skal or skaal.
Some fans of Scandinavian culture have popularized the toast beyond its native
countries, and it can often be heard in many peculiar corners of the world,
especially in regions with a large Scandinavian population. “Skål” actually
means “bowl” and comes from the time when everyone around the table shared the
same drinking vessel. One can say skål on many occasions – to welcome guests,
to wish people luck or to thank them, or to celebrate important moments like
Christmas or spring. In Denmark, you can even continue the toast with “Bunden i
vejret eller resten i håret” (Bottoms up or the rest in your hair.)
Finlande - Kippis! – Maljanne! – Pohjanmaan kautta!
– Hölökyn kölökyn!
“Kippis!” is a very formal way to say “cheers” in
Finnish. There is also the expression
“Maljanne” which means “a toast to you, sir” or even “n malja!”, meaning “a
toast to” – but these are less common than “Kippis”. There is also “Pohjanmaan
kautta” which means “bottoms up” and is widely used when drinking vodka, the
Finns’ most favorite alcohol (Pohjanmaa being a large area in the North-West of
Finland). Last, and more anecdotal, there is “Hölkyn kölkyn” which doesn’t mean
anything but simply sounds funny! It is often used to make foreign tourists
laugh…
Germany - Prost! – Prosit! – Zum Wohl!
“Prosit” comes from the Latin word “prodesse”,
meaning “may it be good for you”. The first known use of the expression “prost”
back from 1846 and is said to have been used by student organizations. It’s now
common to hear the famous drinking song “ein Prosit der gemütlichkeit” at a
German Bierfest, such as the Oktoberfest in Munich. In a more formal
environment and especially for drinking wine, Germans will tend to say “Zum
Wohl” instead, which means “to your well-being”. In any case, Germans always
like to touch all the glasses they can reach at their table when someone makes
a toast…
Netherlands - Proost ! – Gezondheid !
In pure Dutch, people will tend to say “gezondheid”
but the most common way of saying “cheers” is “proost”. Just as in German, it
comes from the Latin and means “may it be good for you”.
Switzerland - Proscht ! – Pröschtli ! – Viva !
The Swiss diminutive versions of “Prost” are
pronounced with a long [ch] to make it sound cuter. “Pröschtli” would approximatively means
“little prost”. The toast in German-speaking Switzerland is proscht; in
French-speaking Switzerland, it is “votre santé” or simply “santé”; in
Italian-speaking Switzerland, “salute”.
Na zdravje! (Slovenia) – Na zdraví ! (Czech) – Na
zdravie! (Slovak) – Stolicka! (Slovak)
The most common toast in Slovenia, the Czech
Republic and Slovakia is the famous “Na zdravi!”, with spellings varying
according to the language of the country. It means “to your health,” upon
saying which each person clinks glasses with everyone else at the table. It is
important to make eye contact with each person you clink glasses with, or you
will be considered rude! In Slovakia, note that you can also say “Stolicka” for
a toast. The word also means “chair” but there are few clues as to why that
would be used as a toast…
Hungary – Egészségünkre ! – Egészségedre ! –
Egészségetekre !
In Hungary there are many traditions to respect when
having a toast. At dinner, it is usually a man who pours the wine, as it is
considered unfeminine for a woman to do so. When toasting in Hungary, make sure
to make eye contact, raise your glass up to eye level, say “Egészségedre!”,
take a drink, make eye contact again, and then place the glass back down on the
table. In Hungarian, there are small variations of the toast: “Egészségedre” is
the singular form for “to your health”, “Egészségetekre” is the plural form,
while “Egészségünkre” means “to our health”.
Poland - Na zdrowie ! – Vivat ! – Sto lat !
In Poland, “Na zdrowie” can be said before sharing a
drink or after someone sneezes. You can expect frequent toasting throughout the
meal, but the first will be offered by the host. Polish people may sometimes
use the phrase “Sto lat!” to wish someone longevity or good fortune, or as a
toast. Literally meaning “one hundred years”, Sto lat is also a traditional
Polish song sung at informal gatherings such as birthdays or saints’ days, or
at formal occasions like weddings.
Lithuania - I sveikata ! – Buk sveikas !
The Lithuanians say “I Sveikata” both after
sneezing, and for a toast. It means – no surprises – “to your health”. There is
also the variant “buk sveikas” meaning “be healthy” or “be in form”. So what
are you waiting for? Raise your glass!
Latvia – Priekā Uz veselibu ! – Priekā !
As in many other countries, the Latvian toast means
“to your health”. Alternatively, you can say Priekā which is the same as
“cheers”.
Estonia – Terviseks !
The Estonian “cheers” is also related to well-being
– being translated as “to your health”.
But how is is it pronounced? “Ter-vee-SEX”, an Estonian will tell you…
but who is the lucky Tervee?
Byelorussia – Nazhtrovia ! – Za zdarou’e ! – Sto lat
!
The most common Belarusian toast is of course
“Nazhtrovia” (to your health). But Belarusian also use an ancient Polish toast,
“Sto lat” which means “a hundred years”.
Ukraine – Budmo ! –
Za vas ! – Za zdorovie !
Having a dinner in Ukraine is risky if you can’t
take your drink – the meals are punctuated with frequent toasts. Everyone at
the table will be expected to propose at least one during the dinner. The host
always makes the first, usually with “Budmo” which means approximately “may we
live forever”. Then everybody at the table answers with “Hey!”, which can be
repeated up to three times depending on the mood of the crowd. Only after this
are people allowed to empty their glasses. Along with the traditional “Za
zdorovie”, there is also the funny toast “Za vas!” which means “here’s to you”.
Well then, Ca va ?
Romania – Noroc !
The word “Noroc” means “good luck” in Romanian – as
well as being used as a greeting. It is also the name of a very famous music group
from Moldova, created in 1967. In 1970, “Noroc” even won the “public sympathy”
prize at the “Bratislava Lyra” festival.
Živeli ! (Serbia) – Zivjeli ! (Croatia) (Bosnia) – U
zdravlje !
In Serbia and Croatia, toasts are usually made with
traditional rakija (brandy), often home-distilled. Toasts are made by clinking
glasses, making direct eye contact and loudly proclaiming “Živeli!”,
pronounced “zjee-ve-lee”, and meaning “Let’s
live long”. You can alternatively say “U zdravlje”. A speech is usually only made on formal
occasions – normally by the host, but a guest may give one, too.
Albania – Gëzuar
! – Shëndeti tuaj !
The Albanian word used for toasts is “Gëzuar”. It
means “enjoy” and is also an adjective meaning “cheerful”, “glad” or “merry”.
You can also find it in the expression “Gëzuar Krishtlindja” – “Merry
Christmas”. There is also “Shëndeti tuaj” for “to your health”.
Bulgaria and Macedonia - Наздраве (Na zdrave) !
In Bulgaria, just as in many eastern European
countries, people say cheers with the word “Наздраве” (Na zdrave) , meaning “to
health”.
Greece – γεια μας (yiamas) ! – Εις υγείαν (ees
eegiyan) ! – Εβίβα (eviva) ! – στην υγειά μας (stin iyia mas) !
The most frequent toast in Greece is “γεια μας”
(yiamas) meaning “to our health”, or “στην υγειά μας” (stin iyia mas) – “to your health”. In an informal situation,
one can also say “στην υγειά μας” (stin iyia mas) and more formally “Εις
υγείαν” (ees eegiyan). There is also “Εβίβα” (eviva) which comes from the
Italian expression meaning “long life”.
Turkey – Şerefe ! – Sağlığına !
The Turkish drinking toast is “Şerefe” which means
“to your honor”. It also designates a part of a mosque. “Sağlığına” is
alternatively used to toast “to your health” with its plural form
“Sağlığiniza”.
