Day 13 – something to toast if you dare!

It is not a Friday but the number 13 still carries a lot of weight when it comes to superstition. I thought I would use this opportunity to take a little look at some of the traditions and superstitions around alcohol and its consumption – fingers crossed it will be a good post!

Most alcohol-related superstitions occur around the act of toasting. It is often believed that the clinking of glasses has it roots in the middle ages when death by poisoning was quite common. The clinking of glasses meant drink would splash into everyone’s glass, thus ensuring the drink was not poisoned. This story is largely disputed. It has long been common for the host to take the first sip, thus signalling that the drink is safe, and everyone else would take their lead from this. The actual clinking of glasses came late to the party, so to speak.

The ancient Greeks used to pour their wine onto the ground or an altar as a religious act, to honour the dead and their gods. This act was known as libation, and was also found later in ancient Roman culture. In fact, the act of libation is found across time and cultures. It is a way to toast the departed.

The term “toast” is believed to have derived from ancient times. The Romans put pieces of toast into their glasses of wine because it helped to reduce the acidity and bitterness of the drink. This certainly continued into the middle ages. It is a widespread belief that you should maintain direct eye contact with the person you are toasting, or else great misfortune will befall you. One belief is that failure to do so will lead to seven years of bad sex. Mmm….?

It is unlucky and thought to be poor etiquette (etiquette and superstition are interwoven with local customs and beliefs) to toast someone with an empty glass – it conveys a lack of concern or interest for the people present. Similarly, it is bad form to toast with a glass of water as it is supposed to lead to death – in some cultures for the person toasting, in others for everyone present. It is apparently still banned in the U.S. Navy because it foretells a watery grave for the toaster. Similarly, sailors in the past would not clink their glasses for fear of awakening the souls of the drowned. In some parts of Germany, if you toast with a glass of water it is understood that you wish death to befall those present. The link between drinking water and death may arise from Greek mythology where souls would drink from the River Lethe before entering the underworld.

There are many other customs associated with drinking in company that can be found across the world, such as banging the table before and after drinking a shot, the meaning of spilling alcohol (good omen for some, bad omen for others), not putting your glass back on the table when it still contains drink, and refilling a wine glass before it is empty (mandatory in some cultures, abhorred by others). I will say more about beliefs and traditions relating to wine in a later post, touch wood.

Alcohol Trivia Quiz

Yesterday’s answers:
1. Germination
2. 1759
3. Belgium

Today’s questions:
1. What does in vino veritas mean?
2. What are the top three most common pub names in the UK?
3. Who said “When I read about the dangers of drinking I gave up reading”?

Thank you for stopping by. There will be more on offer tomorrow. Keep safe and well.