Have you ever wondered where the wedding toast comes from or why we even call it a toast in the first place? To answer that, we have to look back at the fascinating history of toasting itself.
Toasting: where did it start?
The custom of raising a glass goes back to ancient times. Many early societies lifted cups of wine as drink offerings to their gods. The Greeks also drank to each other’s health; in fact, in The Odyssey, Ulysses drinks to Achilles’ health.
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| Some used toasting as an excuse to drink excessive amounts of alcohol. |
The Romans took the ritual to a whole new level. Toasting to health became so ingrained in their culture that the Senate once decreed every citizen must drink to the Emperor Augustus at every meal. Later accounts even describe Attila the Hun offering multiple toasts at each course of a feast. Of course, not all toasts were ceremonial; sometimes they were simply an excuse for overindulging. You can read more about this tradition in The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, which depicts a feast where Attila the Hun practices at least three toasts for every course.
Why it's called making a toast
The word toast itself appeared in the 16th century. In Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives ofWindsor, Falstaff says, “Go fetch me a quart of sack; put a toast in’t.” And yes, they meant an actual piece of toasted bread!
The bread was placed in wine to absorb some of the acidity, making the drink smoother—and giving new life to stale bread. Over time, the honored guest was often offered the wine-soaked toast itself. Gradually, the practice of drinking with bread in the cup evolved into the symbolic act of “toasting” we know today.
Enter the Toastmasters
By the 17th and 18th centuries, toasting had become so popular that “Toastmasters” were appointed at gatherings. Their job? To keep the toasts in order and prevent things from getting out of hand, because some revelers were known to toast nearly everyone in the room just for another round of drinks! Modern etiquette has toned things down, favoring a polite sip instead of a hearty guzzle.
Origins of the wedding toast
The tradition of the wedding toast can be traced back to ancient times, when peace treaties were often sealed with marriage. At the banquet, the bride’s father would drink first from the communal pitcher, proving the wine wasn’t poisoned and symbolizing trust between families. From this gesture grew the custom of raising a glass to honor the couple—a tradition still alive at weddings today.
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