Toasting
Once called "drinking healths," toasting can be found in many cultures around the world.

  In ancient Rome, a piece of burnt bread was placed in wine glasses to mellow flavor. This is similar to wine makers charring the insides of their wine barrels to add quality. In the 17th century, the custom had spread to England, and the pieces of spiced toast were eaten after glasses were raised in honor of a guest. If it was a communal goblet being passed around, the guess of honor ate the soggy bread. Luckily, today's toasting does not actually involve any bread at all.

  The right toast at the right time can make for a very memorable moment for the guest of honor. Here you will find a list of toasts for many occasions and the proper way to go about them.

Toasting Etiquette
  • The host should always be allowed to propose a toast first. If it seems that they are not keen on doing so, you may ask them quietly if it is alright for you to give a toast.

  • You are not always obligated to stand when giving a toast. For a small gathering, you may stay sitting. For large or formal dinners, it probably will be best to stand, so everyone can see you if nothing else. Guests can all remain seated.

  • Glance around the room and make sure everyone's glass is full before toasting. If anyone's glass is lacking, it may be a good idea to announce that you are about to give a toast and let them have a moment to call for more wine or go fill their glass themselves. This should only take a moment, as most people will be quick as they can about it.

  • First lift your glass in front of you at about shoulder level. Be sure to look at the person who you are toasting. Be brief in your toast, and stay heartfelt. To wrap up, sip your drink, then salute to the toastee using your glass before seating yourself or setting the glass down again.

  • All guests take a sip of their drinks when the toast is over. If you don't drink alcohol, whatever else you happen to be drinking will do just fine. A toast with water is just as good.

  • If you are the object of the toast, you do not drink with everyone else. Accept the kind words with a nod and even a smile. You may respond with a toast of your own, but this is completely optional.

Birthday

Don't think of it as another YEAR older-just thinking of it as one DAY older than yesterday.

Here's hoping that you live forever and mine is the last voice you hear.
-Willard Scott

It's never too late and you're never too old--Noah was 600 years old before he learned how to build an ark.

May God grant you many years to live, for sure he must be knowing, the earth has angels all too few and heaven is overflowing...

May you live all the days of your life.
-Jonathan Swift

May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live.

May you live to be a hundred, plus a year to repent.

The good die young… the young die good… wouldn't you rather be old?

The good die young, so here's to living to a ripe old age!

To your birthday-no matter how old you are, you don't look it!

We drink to your coffin. May it be built from the wood of a hundred year old oak tree that I shall plant tomorrow.

You're not as young as you use to be, but then you're not as old as you're going to be.

Destiny

Destiny is no matter of choice. It is a matter of choice: it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.
-William Jennings Bryan

Drinking

I drink to your health when I'm with you,
I drink to your health when I'm alone,
I drink to your health so often,
I'm starting to worry about my own!

It is better to spend money like there's no tomorrow
than to spend tonight like there's no money!

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 pint-- and another one!

Here's to being single...
Drinking doubles...
And seeing triple!

My friends are the best friends
Loyal, willing and able.
Now let's get to drinking!
All glasses off the table!

That the tap may be open when it rusts!

Friends

Here's to cold nights, fine wine, and good friends to share them with.

Here's to Eternity-may we spend it in as good company as we have tonight.

Here's to good friends, who know you well and like you anyway.

Here's to you, and here's to me,
Best of friends we'll always be,
And if by chance we disagree,
Then screw you and here's to me.

May your hand always reach out in friendship and never in want.

May your home always be too small to hold all your friends.

Old friends are scarce,
New friends are few,
I'm glad to find
Both in you.

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.

General

Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.

Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.
-Ogden Nash

Here's lookin' at you, kid.
-Humphrey Bogart (in the film Casablanca)

Here's to God's first thought: Man.
Here's to God's second thought: Woman.
And since second thoughts are always the best, here's to women!

Here's to health, peace and prosperity. May the flower of love never be nipped by the frost of disappointment, nor shadow of grief fall among your family and friends.

Here's to sirloin when you're hungry,
Whiskey when you're dry,
Greenbacks when you're busted,
And heaven when you die!

Here's a toast to all who're here,
No matter where you're from;
May the best day you've ever seen
Be worse than your worst to come.

Here's to you, as good as you are,
And here's to me, as bad as I am;
And as bad as I am, and as good as you are,
I'm as good as you are, as bad as I am.

Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and it laughs anyway.

May all your troubles be little ones.

May the most you wish for be the list you get.

May the roof above you never fall in,
And those gathered beneath it never fall out.

May we always be happy and our enemies know it.

May you be in heaven a full half hour
before the devil knows your dead.

May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
Slow to make enemies,
And quick to make friends.

May your mornings bring joy
and your evenings bring peace...
May your troubles grow less
as your blessings increase!

May your pockets be heavy-
Your heart be light,
And may good luck pursue you
Each morning and night.

To a full moon on a dark night and a smooth road all the days of your life.

To long lives and short wars.
-Colonel Potter, on TV's M*A*S*H

We live in a wonderful world that if full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.
-Jawaharial Nehru

Love

Here's to Cupid, the little squirt,
He's lost his pants, he's lost his shirt,
He lost it all except his aim,
Which proves love's a losing a game.

Here's to kissing those we please and pleasing those we kiss.

Here's to the girls that call you "honey,"
They drink your wine and spend your money,
They put you to bed and hug you tight
And cross their legs and say "good night"!
-George Ade

I've known many and liked a few,
But loved just one, so here's to you.

Love may not make the world go around but it sure makes the ride worthwhile.
To the men (gals) I've loved
To the men (gals) I've kissed
And sincere apologies
To the men (gals) I've missed.

Success

I believe in luck: how else can you explain the success of those you don't like?
-Jean Cocteau

If you're not the lead dog, the view never changes-here's to success.

Let us toast the fools-but for them, the rest of us could not succeed.
-Mark Twain

May misfortune follow you the rest of your life, and never catch up.

May you get all your wishes but one,
so that you will always have something to strive for!

May your heart be light and happy,
May your smile be big and wide,
And may your pockets always have
a coin or two inside!