At a fun holiday feast or during small gatherings with friends, it is customary to say toasts and clink glasses. After all, it does not carry in itself any practical benefit now.
Hypotheses of the emergence of tradition
The tradition of clinking glasses is very ancient, but it is impossible to say exactly when it appeared. The same applies to the reason. There are several suggestions why people started clinking glasses. But their reliability is only hypothetical.
Dark Ward Function
The most consistent is the “amulet” hypothesis. In ancient times, people attributed many natural phenomena to extraneous interference. Everyone believed in ghosts, spirits and evil spirits. Only bells ringing scared otherworldly forces.
Clinking metal cups sounds like a ringing bell, so people believed that such a rite would save them from evil spirits. Moreover, such a ritual is easier to carry out than to ring the bells during each feast.
Confirmation was a few more traditions of different nations. It is believed that during eating and drinking, an evil spirit can enter a person through the mouth. Therefore, many nations have small ceremonies before drinking. For example, in some southern countries it was customary to ring the bell before drinking. And in religious Europe, it was customary to be baptized before drinking.
Interesting fact: There was no such tradition in Japan. It is borrowed from Europeans.
Another confirmation of the function of the amulet is the behavior at the funeral.Although, as is customary, alcohol is present on the table, it is not customary to clink glasses at funeral parties. This can scare away the spirit of a dead person who has not yet said goodbye to his family.
Against poisoning
This explanation has become more widespread. According to him, the tradition of clinking glasses was originally used only by the aristocracy. Approximate king fought for power, titles and the right to choose the next heir by any means at hand. And pouring poison into goblets with drink has become the most popular way to kill an opponent.
Clinking glasses was taken in a big way and spray. Thus, the wine from the two bowls was mixed. And if one of the drinkers poisoned the drink, he himself would have suffered from the poison. For the same reason, aristocrats loved to exchange cups.
This hypothesis has its followers, but there are no echoes of the appearance of the rite. Today it’s not customary to hit hard with glasses. But there is no other evidence.
How to clink glasses with wine?
Drinking culture has its own etiquette. A glass of wine or champagne must be held by the leg to hear a melodic ringing.
The drink should be held in hand at eye level. Raising a hand above your head is indecent. You can not reach across the table to clink glasses. In this case, it is enough to raise the glass and, looking into the interlocutor’s eyes, nod slightly.
Clink glasses with alcohol. But this is a way to maintain a festive atmosphere, so non-drinkers should also clink glasses with others. But in their glasses you can pour soft drinks. It is imperative to sip a drink after clinking glasses.
Interesting fact: in addition to the rules of etiquette, certain signs also apply. For example, the last person a girl clinks a glass with at a big celebration should be a man. This promises a quick marriage.
Although it is not known for certain why people started clinking glasses, today in Russia this tradition has become an integral part of culture. But in other countries, there may be other traditions. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the owner of the house during the feast. If he is not the first to clink glasses, then guests should not do this.
