TOASTS

Introduction

To the divinities of the Hellenic world belongs the honor of having sponsored the charming custom of toasting although the term "toast" was not connected with it until much later. To begin with, it seems to have been a gesture of obligation to "the gods" and to the dead. With time, as the custom continued on to the Romans, the Normans, the Norsemen, the Danes, and other nations of northern Europe, it de­veloped into the offering of "healths" to persons. Men drank to their mistresses, for instance, and it is said that it was customary for the number of toasts drunk to equal the letters in the lady's name. At funeral feasts they offered toasts to their kings.

In England, the introduction to the custom of drinking healths arose from the Danish drinking habits. It seems that the Danes, when in their cups, were known to wound and sometimes murder the Britons. From whence, the expression "I pledge you" was introduced; that is, a second person pledged himself for the safety of him who was drinking and the one who took the cup drank health to him who pledged himself for his safety.

The Anglo-Saxons assimilated the custom changing it with time into a wish, "Be thou well," (Waes haeil). The latter term is the source of the familiar word, wassail.

The association of the expressions "to toast," "toasts," and "toast­ing" in connection with drinking to the health, happiness and pros­perity of another arose out of an old English custom. The toast was a slice of bread toasted, used in a cup in which a hot liquor flavored with nutmeg and sugar was served. It is interesting that after awhile it was believed that simply a bit of toasted bread added to a drink improved the flavor. The custom of "toasting" seems to have arisen in the reign of Charles II in the seventeenth century. A renowned lady of the times was in the Cross Bath (it is reported that in those days it was customary for the celebrated women to bathe in public) and one of her admirers drank her health to the assembled company in a glass of water dipped from the bath water. One of the onlookers, somewhat muddled from drink, offered to jump in, swearing that though he liked not the liquor, he would have the toast. From this origin, so the story goes, stemmed the present custom of honoring the lady in liquor called ever since a toast. There are various anecdotes about the "drinking of healths." The early Greeks usually had a toast of three cups—one to Mercury, one to the Graces and the third to Jupiter. In Rome, there was a law that diners at formal functions must drink to the health of Augustus. A devoted Anglo-Saxon lover, drawing blood from his own forehead with the blade of his poniard, and letting a few drops fall into his wine cup, would quaff this mixture to the health of his fair maiden. In Oxford, wine for toasts might have been dipped out of the slipper of a current beauty. In England in the seventeenth century, a Danish custom was practiced of offering a toast not only to present friends but to friends not present. In France excessive inebriation from the popular custom of toast drinking caused Louis XIV to forbid the offering of toasts at court.

The ritual of toasting has assumed many phases through history. In England, toasts might have been offered on bended knees; in Scot­land, on a chair with one foot on the table. In France, the one offering the toast, the one receiving, and the assembled guests customarily exchanged bows during the ceremony. At the present time, at a wed­ding reception, the ritual of toasting is simple. The person offering the toast (usually the Best Man) rises and lifts his glass toward the bride and groom whose health is to be drunk. The guests rise with him. The bride and groom remain seated and do not drink with the others. Afterwards, the groom gets to his feet and thanks the Best Man. He may, at this time, offer a toast to his bride, and possibly one to her parents and his, to the members of the wedding party and to the guests. After this, it is in order for the father of the bride, the father of the groom, any of the ushers or guests to offer toasts if they wish to do so.

Toasts

1. Engagement:

By the bride's father—traditional announcement by newly engaged girl's father at dinner:

"Here's to the happiness and health of my daughter Jane and my future son-in-law, Henry!"

"To Jane and Henry with our love and best wishes for all that is good in their future together."

"Let's all drink to the happiness of our children, Jane and Henry."

"It is with great pleasure that I announce the engagement of Jane and Henry. May they have happiness, health, and good for­tune. I propose a toast to them!"

"Here's to sweethearts—the morning glories of life, the first real flowers that we gather in the garden of existence."

 John Earnest McCann.

By bride-groom-to-be—

Simply: "Thank you."

"Jane and I want to tell you all how happy we are and how much we appreciate our relatives and friends."

"Jane and I feel fortunate to have relatives and friends that we love so much."

"I have known many, Liked a few, Loved one— Here's to you!"
 Anonymous.

"Oh lady there may be many things That seem right fair, below, above; But sure not one among them all Is half so sweet as love.

 Oliver Wendell Holmes

"I simply say that she is good,

And loves me with pure womanhood.

When that is said, why, what remains?"

 Joaquin Miller

2.         Bachelor Dinner:

By the bridegroom—

"To the bride!" He then breaks the stem of the champagne glass, saying, "May this glass never serve a less honorable purpose." Best man or ushers to bridegroom—

"Till we are built like angels, with
hammer, and chisel, and pen,

We will work for ourselves and a
woman, forever and ever, Amen!"
 Kipling

"Here's to the land we love, and the love we land!"

3.         Wedding:

By the Best Man—

"To the bride!"

"Health, wealth and love and all the best that life has to offer!"

"May sunshine follow you all the days of your life."

"Here's to the ship of matrimony; may it never meet with bad weather."

"To Betty Ann—whose scintillating charm is unsurpassed and whose beauty was long ago perfected by Mother Nature;

"To my Brother Art whom we have all come to admire and re­spect for his ambition, intelligence and convictions;

"May your future be filled with the same happiness and love you share for each other today and may your success be limited only by the fulfillment of our hopes and dreams for you!"

 Warren E. Vogel

"Here's to the tears of affection. May they crystallize as they fall, and become pearls in after years in memory of those whom we have loved."

"The best of happiness, honour and fortunes keep with you."

 Timon of Athens.

"Love is the only good in the world. Henceforth be loved as heart can love, or brain devise, or hand approve."

 Browning

"Joy, gentle friends, joy! and fresh days of love accompany your hearts."

 Shakespeare

"I wish thee health,
I wish thee wealth,
I wish thee gold in store,
I wish thee heaven upon earth—
What could I wish thee more?"
 Anonymous.

By the bridegroom—

"First, I want to answer a question I have been asked quite often these past few moments—'How does it feel now that you've jumped into marriage?'

Those of you who are already married know the answer to that question. I'm talking to those who are still confronted with it.

It isn't a 'jump'—it's a step, a natural, satisfying, and rewarding step. You will know that when the time comes.

As for my personal thoughts at this time, I can't help thinking of some very important people—my mother and Mr. and Mrs.— without them, none of this could have come about. I offer this toast to them—
And I now offer a toast to my bride, who has made me so happy today."

 Arthur C, Vogel.
Bridegroom to bride—
"Here's to the girl I love,
And here's to the girl that loves me,
And here's to all those that love her that I love
And to those that love her that loves me."

"Man may be the head of the family, but far better than that, woman is the heart of it."

 Punch
                  "One-half of me is yours
                  The other half yours
                  And so all yours."

 Shakespeare

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