Toasting is one of those universal gestures… but it changes greatly from culture to culture. Some rituals are elegant, others curious, and still others decidedly noisy 😄
Here's a little journey through the most interesting ones:
🇮🇹 Italy
In Italy, people toast by saying "cin cin" (from the Chinese "qing qing," an imitation of the sound of clinking glasses).
Unwritten rules:
- make eye contact
- never toast with water
- glass always full (at least a little)
🇫🇷 France
In France, people say "santé" or "à votre santé".
Interesting facts:
- maintain eye contact
- in small groups, everyone must clink glasses with everyone else (it can become a challenge!)
🇩🇪 Germany
In Germany, toasting is taken very seriously:
- people say "Prost!" (for beer) or "Zum Wohl!"
- making eye contact is mandatory
- not doing so = 7 years of bad luck according to tradition 😄
🇪🇸 Spain
In Spain, people toast with "Salud".
Fun tradition:
- if you toast with water… it's said to bring bad luck (a bit like in Italy)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, toasting is more subdued:
- people say "Cheers!"
- often without clinking glasses, especially in formal settings
🇷🇺 Russia
In Russia, toasting is almost an art form:
- each toast has a speech (sometimes long!)
- you don't drink before the toast
- people often say "Za zdorovie!" ("to health")
- after the toast… you drink it all in one gulp 🍸
🇯🇵 Japan
In Japan, toasting is very respectful:
- people say "Kanpai!"
- you wait for everyone to be served before drinking
- pouring drinks for others is a sign of politeness (not for oneself)
🇨🇳 China
In China, toasting is dynamic and hierarchical:
- people say "Gānbēi" ("empty glass")
- the glass is often emptied completely
- important gesture: hold your glass lower than that of an older or more important person
🇭🇺 Hungary
In Hungary, there's a historical peculiarity:
- traditionally, people did not clink beer glasses when toasting
- linked to historical events in the 19th century (though many do it today anyway)
🇬🇪 Georgia
In Georgia, toasting is a true ritual:
- there is a "toastmaster" called a tamada
- they guide the sequence of toasts (family, peace, ancestors…)
- it can last for hours and is very structured
🇸🇪 Sweden
In Sweden:
- people say "Skål!"
- you make eye contact before, during, and after drinking
- then you put the glass back down with a small nod
In summary
Toasting changes, but everywhere it keeps the same core meaning:
👉 to create connection
👉 to express a wish
👉 to share a moment
Some do it with few words, others with long speeches… but the meaning remains surprisingly universal.
