Clinking glasses

dhermann1 · Jun 21, 2008

This just jumped into my brain as I was listening to a song about making a toast. Does anyone else here get as irritated as I do by the contemporary idea that when you propose a toast every gosh darn person in the room has to clank his glass with the glass of every other gosh darn person in the room? My God, the clanking and reaching and climbing all over each other just to say "Here's to so and so!" Just raise your glass, say "hear, hear," or words to that effect, and swallow!
And while we're on the subject of annoying contemporary traditions, why do people feel they have to sing "Happy Birthday to You", as off key as possible? When did Americans suddenly become incapable of carrying a simple tune? Sure, some people are tone deaf, but most people who say they are just don't want to make the effort.
These two little annoyances sure trash the sense of occasion and dignity of birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, etc.
OK, I guess this should be in the "Sense of Occasion" thread, Whatever became of that anyway?
So, anyone care to contribute to my little rant?

adamjaskie · Jun 21, 2008

A proper toast involves two people only, and a shot of akvavit for each person. If you have five people in the room, each person ends up toasting four other people, individually, with a shot for each. No excuses.

Twitch · Jun 22, 2008

I always figured a toast made in a room full of people was to be followed by just raising the glass[huh]

carebear · Jun 22, 2008

Twitch said:
I always figured a toast made in a room full of people was to be followed by just raising the glass[huh]

Here here.

Warbaby · Jun 22, 2008

adamjaskie said:
A proper toast involves two people only, and a shot of akvavit for each person. If you have five people in the room, each person ends up toasting four other people, individually, with a shot for each. No excuses.

I'll drink to that!

dhermann1 · Jun 22, 2008

Twitch said:
I always figured a toast made in a room full of people was to be followed by just raising the glass[huh]

Yeah, well, Twitch, that's what I always thought . . . .

rumblefish · Jun 22, 2008

I purposely avoid the person who feels they must touch every ones glass during a toast, with the hopes I'll get to see some neurosis bubble to the surface

. As if not "getting" every one before we sip will ruin the toast.

Real Swell Gal · Jun 23, 2008

If someone is toasting or singing to me, I'm usually just honored to be recognized.

Spitfire · Jun 23, 2008

:cheers1:......

!!!!!!!

BegintheBeguine · Jun 23, 2008

Uh oh

Uh oh. I'm a clinker. My friends are all clinkers, especially the ones of my mom's generation. I had no idea we were so annoying. I figure the more people getting together under happy circumstances the better.

[huh] My brother also informed me that the correct way to clink with one other person is to look each other in the eye, not at the glass as is the reflex. He learned that in 1980 in Europe so it must be true.

Spitfire · Jun 23, 2008

The proper way...

ahhh yes.
It's even more "complicated" than just looking in each others eyes.
You lift the glass - and if it's a wineglas you hold it at the stem - NEVER around the glas itself. The proper height of the glass is between the second and the third shirtbutton, then you look the person you want to toast in the eyes and then you drink. And after you've done that, you bring the glass down to the same position (between the second and the third shirtbutton)and nod to each other.

When I am in company of clinkers I always gets this "Bierhalle/Teenage" picture.
But I do it...out of politeness. And because I like wine.

Cheers!

John in Covina · Jun 23, 2008

Sgt. Clinker says: "It's a God Given Right to Clink glasses, and I find it very irratating on the part of such limp wristed non clinkers to not participate. Next you'll be asking for distribution of glass condoms!"

What's all this anti-social crap of I participate by choosing not to participate!
As they sing off key: "Every party needs a pooper, that's why we invited YOU!"

Feraud · Jun 23, 2008

BegintheBeguine said:
He learned that in 1980 in Europe so it must be true.

lol

dhermann1 · Jun 23, 2008

Spitfire said:
ahhh yes.
It's even more "complicated" than just looking in each others eyes.
You lift the glass - and if it's a wineglas you hold it at the stem - NEVER around the glas itself. The proper height of the glass is between the second and the third shirtbutton, then you look the person you want to toast in the eyes and then you drink. And after you've done that, you bring the glass down to the same position (between the second and the third shirtbutton)and nod to each other.

When I am in company of clinkers I always gets this "Bierhalle/Teenage" picture.
But I do it...out of politeness. And because I like wine.

Cheers!

Mr S. Fire: You are a civilized man.

Spitfire · Jun 23, 2008

John in Covina said:
Sgt. Clinker says: "It's a God Given Right to Clink glasses, and I find it very irratating on the part of such limp wristed non clinkers to not participate. Next you'll be asking for distribution of glass condoms!"

What's all this anti-social crap of I participate by choosing not to participate!
As they sing off key: "Every party needs a pooper, that's why we invited YOU!"

It's a free world John, go on clinking and clanking as you like.
If what you drink tastes better that way - do it.:cheers1:
If you feel better that way - do it.:cheers1:

Just don't expect everybody else to do it. That would be terribly anti-social

BegintheBeguine · Jun 23, 2008

Of course, I sing them beautifully.

lol My new favorite thread.
Americans are asked to sing two songs in groups, both of which are difficult for most people to sing and sound good: The Star Spangled Banner and Happy Birthday to You. The National Anthem has too wide a range and people start Happy Birthday to You on the wrong key, always. Even Marilyn Monroe pretty much spoke her version. Why we don't all sing Altered Images' Happy Birthday, it's much easier?!
I'd forgotten about the nod, Spitfire, thanks.

SamMarlowPI · Jun 23, 2008

BegintheBeguine said:
My brother also informed me that the correct way to clink with one other person is to look each other in the eye, not at the glass as is the reflex. He learned that in 1980 in Europe so it must be true.

same with shaking hands...or so i've heard...

miss_elise · Jun 24, 2008

BegintheBeguine said:
The National Anthem has too wide a range and people start Happy Birthday to You on the wrong key, always. Even Marilyn Monroe pretty much spoke her version. Why we don't all sing Altered Images' Happy Birthday, it's much easier?!
I'd forgotten about the nod, Spitfire, thanks.

Happy Birthday is darn hard to sing... i remember it was one of the songs we had to sing when i auditioned for the Australian Girls Choir... i guess they figured if you made a passable attempt at that you would do well in the choir...lol

Shaul-Ike Cohen · Jun 24, 2008

miss_elise said:
Happy Birthday is darn hard to sing

Regularly gets messed up when the jubilant's name doesn't consist of two syllables, the first of which bears the stress. The result is about what happened when Cab Calloway fooled the masses.

Lucky Strike · Jun 24, 2008

Twitch said:
I always figured a toast made in a room full of people was to be followed by just raising the glass[huh]

This is correct. Also, if a (dinner) party consists of more than six persons, you don't toast the hostess, as she would risk drinking more than six times as many toasts as her guests. If less than six, toast her.

BegintheBeguine said:
My brother also informed me that the correct way to clink with one other person is to look each other in the eye, not at the glass as is the reflex. He learned that in 1980 in Europe so it must be true.

Also correct. The idea is that your attention should be on the person you're drinking with, not the contents of your glass. I learned this Europe around 1980, too. Thank you, grandmother.

Spitfire said:
ahhh yes.
It's even more "complicated" than just looking in each others eyes.
You lift the glass - and if it's a wineglas you hold it at the stem - NEVER around the glas itself. The proper height of the glass is between the second and the third shirtbutton, then you look the person you want to toast in the eyes and then you drink. And after you've done that, you bring the glass down to the same position (between the second and the third shirtbutton)and nod to each other.

When I am in company of clinkers I always gets this "Bierhalle/Teenage" picture.
But I do it...out of politeness. And because I like wine.

Cheers!

The third shirt button thing: Military/formal toast, nod first right, then left. This nodding often degenerates into throwing your gaze around the table in a counter-clockwise direction.

I don't completely agree about the holding the stem/bowl of the glass idea though - stem for chilled drinks, bowl for "room-temp", I think.

The "clinking" is supposed to have medieval origins; the story is that one would mix the contents of each others' glass, to test for poison. (I have no corroboration of this theory.) If so, over-eager clinking might be interpreted as distrust, I suppose. In modern times, I'd guess that the festive sound of clinking glasses is more important to people.

Drinking beer, I clink happily away, though. It all depends on the setting.

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