The toast or offering a toast is a common, and often expected, ritual in social settings with a basic formula. Someone stands and raises their glass containing some beverage, usually alcoholic, and makes a declaration honoring a person or achievement or a more general statement to celebrate the occasion. During the speech, everyone present holds out their glasses in front of them until the speaker ends the toast with a "Cheers!" or otherwise, at which point the tradition is for everyone to touch or clink glasses with everyone else present. Only after can everyone drink.  The toast ritual can repeat over and over in any given social setting (especially at weddings or boisterous Irish bars).

But what’s with the name? What does burnt bread have to do with honoring your friends/family/etc.? Well, the origin of the word and the custom comes from 6th century Greece, and, believe it or not, poison. However unsavory, the Greeks commonly relied on poison to solve many social problems, including disposing of political enemies and unwanted spouses. Therefore, being invited to a meal was risky business.  In order to assure dinner guests of their safety, the host was expected to take the first drink from a common pitcher and invite the guests to do the same. The same custom of goodwill drinking continued in Roman civilization, where it was a common practice to put a burnt piece of toast in a wine glass. The burnt toast actually reduced the acidity of off wines, making them more drinkable. Bear in mind that your water filter at home probably contains activated charcoal (like on the surface of burnt toast), which has the ability to absorb some toxins, and unpleasant odors and flavors. By 16th century England, the Latin tostus had involved into the English word "toast," and the practice continued. In the 18th century, people commonly toasted celebrities and beautiful women not even present at the occasion, who came to be known as "the toast of the town."

Today, toast giving involves certain rules of etiquette and accepted procedures. Here are some basic guidelines for polite toast-giving and participation.

• When giving a toast, stand and be honest, brief, prepared, and preferably witty.
• Be sure to clearly define the end of your toast with something like "Cheers!"
• Never toast a guest before the host, unless the host grants you the indulgence.
• When being offered a toast, never drink or stand, although after you should stand to thank the speaker.
• Never refuse to participate in a toast. Drinking a non-alcoholic beverage or from an empty glass is more polite than not participating.

We would like suggest some great general toasts for many different occasions. Some of them are offered to celebrate the occasion and entertain the guests, rather than honoring someone. Some of them are funny and intended for a less formal occasion. Wedding toasts are at the end of the list. Enjoy!

There are good ships, and there are wood ships,

The ships that sail the sea.

But the best ships, are friendships,

And may they always be.

Here's to the maiden of bashful fifteen;

Here's to the widow of fifty;

Here's to the flaunting, extravagant queen,

And here's to the housewife that's thrifty!

Let the toast pass;

Drink to the lass;

I'll warrant she'll prove an excuse for the glass.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan, School for Scandal

To temperance . . . in moderation.

Lem Motlow

A toast, to our ancestors that brought us this far; may their efforts not be wasted and may we do as well by our descendants.

Brannock

As you slide down the banister of life,

May the splinters never point the wrong way.

Here's to living single and drinking double.

Irish Toasts- Toasting is of particular importance in Irish tradition, largely because of the strong social institution of "pub culture" in Ireland. Here are some goodies:

A toast to your coffin.

May it be made of 100 year old oak.

And may we plant the tree together, tomorrow.

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

And rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

May you have warm words on a cold evening,

A full moon on a dark night,

And the road downhill all the way to your door.

May there be a generation of children

On the children of your children.

May you live as long as you want,

And never want as long as you live.

May the roof above us never fall in.

And may the friends gathered below it never fall out.

May your neighbors respect you,

Trouble neglect you,

The angels protect you,

And heaven accept you.

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,

May good luck pursue you each morning and night.

Here's to me, and here's to you,

And here's to love and laughter-

I'll be true as long as you,

And not one moment after.

Here's to a long life and a merry one.

A quick death and an easy one.

A pretty girl and an honest one.

A cold beer—and another one!

Merry met, and merry part,

I drink to thee with all my heart.

Wedding Toasts-  Wedding protocol dictates that engagements are announced by the father of the bride with an appropriate toast. At the wedding reception, toasts are offered once all the guests are seated, or once everyone has received a drink at less formal weddings. The best man offers the first toast to the bride and groom, followed by the father of the bride, the father of the groom, the mother of the bride, and so on, and ending with the bride and grooms' toasts to each other.

My Greatest wish for the two of you is that through the years your love for each other will so deepen and grow, that years from now you will look back on this day, your wedding day, as the day you loved each other the least.

Wedding Toast, From the Bride to the Groom or From the Groom to the Bride

Here's to the prettiest, here's to the wittiest, Here's to the truest of all who are true, Here's to the neatest one, here's to the sweetest one, Here's to them, all in one - here's to you.

Wedding Toast, to the Bride and Groom

May 'for better or worse' be far better than worse.

Congratulations on the termination of your isolation and may I express an appreciation of your determination to end the desperation and frustration which has caused you so much consternation in giving you the inspiration to make a combination to bring an accumulation to the population.

A toast!

To the two secrets to a long-lasting happy marriage:

Here's to good sense of humor --and a short memory!