Cheers around the world

by Jonathan M. Forester, Posted Oct 31st 2006 @ 6:02PM

I was just taking a look at one of the food discussion boards, Chowhound.com and saw a great discussion on the international ways to toast each other. I happen to use a few different toasts depending upon the circumstances. I like Kampai (Japanese), Salute (Italian), Nazdrovya (Ruusian), Slainte (Celtic), L'Chaim (Hebrew), and Skoal (Scandinavian). Although I think my favorites are the newest ones I learned not too long ago in Africa, Hey is Jambo (Kenya) and Oogy wawa (Zulu).

There are so many ways that we wish each other well. Many toasts mean "To your Health" and "To Life", then there is "To Luck", some are "To Us", and "To your Loves" and then there are the variations on "Drink up", "Bottom's up", and "Dry your cup." I just find it interesting that while there are so many ways to say cheers, many revolve around the same few sunjects. Here's a international glossary for toasts so you can learn some new ones. Does anyone know any toasts that are a bit more unusual and don't stick to the three or four subject areas outlined above?

Filed Under: Happy Hour, Did you know?, Drink Recipes, How To
Tags: beer, champagne, Cheers, cocktails, did you know, gin, rum, spirits, toasts, vodka, whiskey, whisky, wine

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-31-2006 @7:04PM Spitzmaus said... I've always been fond of "Here's mud in your eye," despite the rather unpleasant imagery! Can any of you shed light on its origin??

Wow, a simple question that has numerous possible answers. Take your pick since I went through dozens of sites and found just as many arguements for any of them. Jonathan

Possible origins are:

The speaker is really congratulating himself, for the saying comes from the world of horse racing where the winning horse will kick mud into the eyes of those following.

Jesus healed a blind man by putting mud on his eyes.

It originated in the muddy trenches of WWI or in the cafes where English and American soldiers spent there leave time %u2013 perhaps better 'mud in your eye' than something more lethal.

It refers to the sediment which is often found in the bottom of a glass of wine.

It's a wish of good fortune to farmers.
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11-01-2006 @11:44AM Ben said... In the Republic of Georgia, only wine is toasted. To toast someone with beer is considered an insult. At least, this is what I was told there.
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11-01-2006 @3:08PM yelena said... there are too great complkicated toasts that i love to say. one is from gentlemen prefer blondes and another is from a crossword puzzle i did like, a billion years ago. the Marilyn Monroe one goes like this ," There once was and old man named Sidney, he drank 'til he ruined a kidney. It shriveled and shrank, but he drank and he drank! He had his fun doing it didn't he?! ; ]"

the other one is a champagne toast "Let's drink cmapagne to our real friends, and wish real pain to our sham friends!"

they are usually quite well recieved...at least for a joke. =]
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