Why We Clink Glasses: The History and Meaning Behind Toasting

Jun 7

An exploration of sound, celebration, and the centuries-old ritual that brings us together

The First Note of a Celebration: The Clink

The toast is older than most of us realize.
Not the words we say, not the bubbly in the glass, but the ritual itself.
That resonant clink (like the ringing of a bell in a cathedral) is an invitation.
To pause. To connect. To say: we’re here, we’re alive, and this matters.

Long before corks popped and camera flashes burst across dinner parties, there was the sound of glass meeting glass, a delicate chime that has echoed through millennia of human joy and grief.
It is the music of unity.
Of promises, pacts, and peace.

But where did it begin?

The Origins: Toasting in the Ancient World

Toasting dates back thousands of years, before glass, before wine as we know it.

The Greeks offered libations to the gods, pouring out the first sip of their wine in tribute to Dionysus, the divine embodiment of pleasure and madness.
To drink together was to share in divine chaos, but to toast was to bring order to it, to frame it with intention.

The Romans followed suit, offering toasts with gravity, especially when honoring the dead.
The word toast, in fact, comes from them.
They would drop a piece of toasted bread into their wine, not for crunch, but for clarity.
The char absorbed acidity, taming the harshness of early vintages before barrels softened them with time.

Even back then, toasting was more than habit.
It was sacred.
It said: we drink together, we trust each other, and we acknowledge the gods, the dead, and the living.

The Medieval Clink: Sound as Proof of Trust

Fast forward to medieval Europe, a time of poisoned goblets and uneasy alliances.
Trust was thin as a dagger’s edge.
And so, a new ritual emerged: the clink.

Back then, it was no gentle gesture.
Glasses were slammed together with force, so that the liquid might splash from one cup to another.
If you dared to toast with someone, you were saying:
”See? I’m not afraid. Drink from your cup, and I’ll drink from mine. We are equals in this risk."

That clink became the final sense engaged.
We see the wine. We smell it. Taste it.
Feel its warmth slide down our throats.
But the sound, the ringing note of communion, was the fifth and final rite of passage.

Across Continents: A Global Ritual

The act of toasting exists in nearly every culture.

In Japan, it’s Kanpai!
In France, Santé!
In Italy, Salute!
In China, Ganbei! (which literally means “dry the cup”…cheers with urgency!)

Each phrase is different, but the intention is the same:
To honor the moment and those within it.

From Viking feasts to Persian poetry, from African tribal dances to Russian vodka-fueled weddings, the toast stands as a universal gesture of inclusion.
A simple act with powerful meaning:
You matter enough to drink with.

Why Sound? The Science of the Clink

There’s something primal about sound.
Music lives in the marrow of our bones.
Even babies will calm to rhythm and tone before they know a single word.

The clink of glasses taps into that.
It’s why we say it “sounds” like a celebration.
The pitch, the resonance, the harmony…it matters.

Psychologists suggest that engaging all five senses helps anchor memory.
The pop of the cork. The glitter of candlelight. The perfume of ripe wine.
But it’s the chime, that crystalline collision of glasses, that makes the memory stick.
It says: You are not alone in this moment.

Even now, in a world of digital toasts and remote celebrations, people will still lean in to clink their webcam wine glasses.
Why?
Because ritual matters.
Sound connects us when touch cannot.

Superstition, Spirits, and the Devil at the Table

Of course, no ancient tradition survives without superstition clinging to its coattails.

In some European folklore, the clink was said to drive away demons…loud noises disturbing evil spirits that lurked near celebratory tables.
To toast in silence was to risk inviting the devil into your circle.
To toast with water?
An insult to the spirit of the drink.
(It’s still considered bad luck in many circles today.)

And heaven forbid you toast without eye contact.
In Germany and France, this is a serious faux pas.
Some say it brings seven years of bad sex.
Others say it simply means you're untrustworthy.

Either way, eyes must meet when glasses do.

Toasting as a Performance of Belonging

At its core, toasting is performance art.
It’s less about the liquid in your cup and more about the people around you.

We raise our glasses not just to each other, but to the shared mythology of our moment:
The birthday that made it one more year.
The promotion that finally came.
The wedding that turned two into one.
The funeral where grief tastes like red wine and rain.

A toast is a pause.
A boundary marker.
A whispered: This matters.

Even in solo moments, when you clink your glass against nothing but air, you’re participating in a ritual older than kings.

You are saying:
"I survived this day, and I mark it now."

What We Toast (And What We Don’t Say Aloud)

The toast is a mirror.
It reflects the culture, the time, the fears.

In war, toasts are solemn.
To fallen comrades. To peace someday.
In love, toasts are messy.
To forever, to maybe, to what if this is the one?

In sorrow, we toast because we cannot bear the silence.
And in joy, we toast because no words are enough.

A well-crafted toast, spoken aloud, is a kind of spell.
It turns wine into memory.
It holds people together for a breath longer than usual.

But some toasts remain unspoken.
The silent clinks.
The teary eyes.
The nods across the table that say:
"I see you. I’m here. Cheers to that."

Modern Rituals, Old Souls

In a world of Instagram posts and TikTok soundbites, it’s easy to forget that some things don’t need filters.
A simple toast, a quiet clink of mismatched glasses, a bottle of something shared…that’s enough.

And yet, even today, the toast evolves.

There are virtual happy hours.
Toasts made over voice notes.
Customized champagne flutes engraved with inside jokes.
Even pet birthdays now get a toast (with dog-safe “wine”).

We don’t need the reasons to get smaller.
We just need the rituals to remain.

Because even in chaos, we crave meaning.

And that is what the toast gives us.

A Ritual Worth Remembering

So the next time you raise your glass, don’t rush it.
Hold it like a flame in your hand.
Let the light catch in the curve.
Let your eyes find the ones you love.

And when the glass meets another, listen for that clink, the soft tolling of joy, the bell that says: you were here.

Zwiesel Crystal Toasting Flutes – Set of 4
Timeless, dishwasher-safe, and made from durable Tritan crystal, these are the perfect flutes for meaningful toasts, weddings, and quiet nights alike.

Personalized Wooden Wine Glass Charms
Handmade and customizable, these wine charms make each guest feel seen. Ideal for dinner parties and unforgettable celebrations.