Raising a glass in a toast is an ancient tradition for celebrations around the world. Those traditions vary from country to country. Here are some of the most common toasts and their traditions from around the world:

Germany: Prost
With Oktoberfest just around the corner, it seems appropriate to start in Germany. Obviously, Germans value a good drink, and it’s important to do it right. To properly toast in Germany, it’s crucial to make eye contact during the toast – otherwise you insult your fellow drinkers. It goes back to the middle ages when you never knew who your enemy was. If they poisoned your drink, they would keep an eye on the rim of the glass to make sure that none of your drink found its way into your glass. If, on the other hand, they met your gaze, that established camaraderie and trust between the parties. When drinking beer, the common toast is Prost, which simply means “cheers”. If you are drinking wine, Zum Wohl, which loosely translated means “to your health”. And don’t drink before everyone has a glass in hand.

Japan: Kampai
Japan’s drinking and toasting traditions are very formal. The toast of Kampai, or “bottoms up” is always first given by the most senior member of the family or business. Other things to keep in mind when drinking in Japan: your glass should be lower than those senior to you in position; never pour your own drink – always let someone else pour for you (and then return the favor); and if you are drinking sake, sip, don’t gulp. Also, if you are finished drinking, don’t pour drinks for anyone else – they’ll feel obligated to fill your glass again, and it’s bad manners not to drink again.

Russia: Za Zdorovie
In Russia, the typical toast is za zdorovie, which wishes good health to your hosts. The response to this is usually nu, poneslis (Here we go again). The weird thing about drinking in Russia is that shot glasses (for Vodka) should never be placed on the table. Instead, when you have finished your drink and the bottle is empty, place them under the table. The reason: After the Battle of Paris in 1814 during the Napoleonic Wars, Russian Cossacks noticed that the number of drinks people were charged for was calculated by the number of bottles left on the table in local restaurants. Supposedly they cleverly placed the bottles under the table to avoid the charges.

Hungary: Egészségére
Hungary’s toast of Egészségére simply means “to your health”. Just as in Germany and other European countries, make sure that you make eye contact with those around you. However, whatever you do, don’t clink glasses together when drinking beer. Apparently, back in 1849 at the end of the revolt against the Hapsburgs, 13 Hungarians were hanged by Austrian soldiers who drank beer and clinked glasses. From that time on, Hungarians swore not to clink glasses for 150 years – and even though we’re well past that, the tradition continues.

Turkey: Serefinize
Serefinize! Is the toast of the day in Turkey. The usual drink is raki, also known as Lion’s Milk, and is a combination of grapes and aniseed. When toasting, make sure that you clink the bottom of your glass – clinking the top implies that you are better than the others. If there is someone you want to remember, lightly tap your glass on the table. And, if you don’t like raki, order some anyway and pretend. Some may be offended if you drink something else.

France: À Votre Santé
 Even though we associate great wine with France, the fact is that the French are polite and very restrained when it comes to drinking. The usual toast is  À Votre Santé or simply Santé, which means “to your health”. Don’t fill your glass more than halfway – it’s considered vulgar to do otherwise. Instead, pour a little at a time (and often). And don’t cross arms with anyone when clinking glasses.

Iceland: Skál
Raise a glass of beer in Iceland and say Skál! This toast can have two meanings. The first, and a little less believable, is “skull” relates to Vikings who would use the skulls of people they killed to toast and drink mead. The more reasonable translation is “bowl”, from an ancient Nordic tradition where people would drink from an empty bowl as a way of honoring someone no longer with them. And, by the way, beer has only been legal since 1989. There was a 74-year prohibition of beer due to alcoholism. Other alcoholic drinks were initially banned in 1915 as well, but eventually lifted on everything but beer in 1935. Icelanders now celebrate Beer Day every March 1st.

 One of the pleasures of traveling is being able to enjoy the tastes and traditions of different cultures. As you can see, toasting with the locals can be rewarding – as long as you follow the local traditions. Are you ready to experience the drinks and foods of the world? Let Luxury Destinations Concierge help plan your next trip. Give us a call at (805) 236-4437.

South America is one of the most diverse and fascinating continents in the world. Unless you’ve traveled throughout South America, there’s probably a lot you don’t know about the countries, peoples and cuisines of the area. Here are some unique facts about South America to pique your interest:

1. The highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world is in Venezuela. Angel Falls is 3,212 feet tall, with a cascade of 2,648 feet, and is located in Canaima National Park.
2. The Guembe Biocenter in Santa Cruz, Bolivia is home to the world’s largest butterfly sanctuary.
3. There’s a clock on the National Congress building in the main square in La Paz, Bolivia that runs backwards. It’s actually a reflective clock that runs counterclockwise to remind the people to think differently.
4. In Bolivia and Ecuador – and elsewhere in South America – guinea pig is a delicacy. Known as cuy, guinea pigs were domesticated by indigenous people in the Andes for their meat, which is often compared to rabbit.
5. The Amazon Rainforest is home to thousands and thousands of species. In fact, it’s thought that more than 40% of animal and plant life are located in the rainforest. It also produces somewhere between 6% and 20% of the oxygen in our atmosphere.
6. Chocolate con queso (hot chocolate with cheese) is a favorite breakfast or tea time drink in Colombia.
7. Chile’s Atacama Desert is the largest non-polar desert in the world. It’s also the oldest. Funny thing though: we normally associate desert with heat; the average temperature in the Atacama Desert is 63 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. In Paraguay, there are no doorbells. If you are visiting someone’s home, people clap before entering. Instead of ringing a doorbell when visiting someone's home, the people of Paraguay will clap before entering.
9. South America also the longest mountain range on the planet. The Andes stretches a mind-boggling 4,500 miles. It spans 7 countries from Venezuela down to the southernmost tip of Chile and Argentina.
10. Uruguay has the longest national anthem in the world, clocking in at over 5 minutes long with no fewer than 11 verses and 105 bars of music.
11. Lake Titicaca, located in the Andes between Bolivia and Peru, is the highest commercially navigable body of water in the world.
12. The Inca Indians in Peru were the first to cultivate potatoes. In 1536 Spanish Conquistadors conquered Peru, discovered the flavors of the potato, and carried them to Europe – the rest is history.
13. Salar de Uyuni in the Bolivian Andes is the world’s largest salt flat at 4,086 square miles. It also was used to film The Last Jedi. And it is a breeding ground for flamingos.
14. Dueling between two people is legal in Paraguay.  One caveat: both must be registered blood donors and medical staff must be present.

Are you ready to learn more about South America? Why not visit on your next vacation? Luxury Destinations Concierge is ready to help you plan your trip. Give us a call at (805) 236-4437.