LIVE!

The basics on water gentlemen, the basics. 

A short lesson so that you are never unprepared!

First of all, not to be wrong, you never know, we listen to the old adages: 'never toast with water', and who are we to depart from ancient wisdom? 

This opens up a sea of hypotheses, not wine unfortunately: it seems that an old American Navy manual from 1896 contains some interesting rules.

It was a vademecum of good manners for members of the Navy, in which there was a special section devoted precisely to the rules of the toast!

First of all, it was specified that it was improper to make a toast with water, and in fact all water glasses were temporarily removed from the table at the time of the toast, how wonderful, and think of the saving of water.

Even teetotalers had to participate, and could simply put their lips to the glass, strictly of Port... but we are sure that some good friend of the teetotalers in question would have sacrificed himself for the cause.

Another sailor's saying is that he who toasts with water dies of drowning... heaven forbid!

A more historical version has it that in ancient Greece toasts with water were the rule to accompany the souls of the dead to a better life... when in doubt, it is better to avoid accompanying toasts.

Another explanation, again linked to those friendly naval drinkers (English this time), is that at a time when the English Monarchy was overrun by Oliver Cromwell in 1600, naval personnel attached to the Crown chose an unusual toast in protest: they carried the wine goblet over the water glass, simulating a metaphorical crossing of the English Channel, beyond which lay their exiled King, as a sign of salute and respect. The anti-monarchist forces thus prohibited the toast before the water was removed from the tables and water was banned from the toasts.

In short, water did not have a good reputation.

And the ritual of the toast also has its historical rules.

Why do we raise our glasses when we celebrate in the first place?

Actually, the origin of the gesture is less funny than people think: it is said that in ancient Rome it was customary to bump the cups full of wine so that the drops of the drink poured between different glasses, and in this way avoid unwanted poisoning by unpleasant guests, it seems that it was fashionable to poison others by putting some substance in the cups.

But the expression 'cheers' is also ancient: in classical Greece, it was used by the master of the house who drank first, so as to reassure his guests (in short, even the mythical Greeks liked to poison themselves...).

In short, you should also do this when your guests are not sure whether the wine you are offering is good. 

So now that we know the basic rules (in fact, nothing below 10 degrees) let's raise a glass and toast!

"Cheers" has Chinese origins: it has an onomatopoeic sound and means "you're welcome", used by sailors (but how much did these sea wolves drink?) as a joking, but cordial, greeting.

Prosit is a true Latin greeting: 'may it be well with you', and what better wish?

"Viva!" is the exclamation we like best, a hymn of joy and exultation that brings good cheer.

"Mabuhay': in Filipino it means 'yay', 'cheers'.

In Madrid you might run into a folkloric ""Arriba, abajo, al centro y pa dentro", easy no?

In Sweden and Denmark it is practically obligatory to look the person you are toasting with in the eye and say "Skål!" ("skol") which means "cup", while in Finland it is "Kippis".

In the Balkan countries you have to pronounce "Ziveli" ("ziveli") or "We live long", while in Albania you have to say "Gesuaz" ("Ghesuaz") or "Jesus".

We close with an international "cheers" to all.