Why Do people click their drinking glasses together when they have a toast?

Answer 1

You tell me! It's pretty naff in most settings nowadays. 8 people around a table ostentatiously clinking glasses before tucking into their oaked chardonnay. "Ee nan, that's reet grand that wine" Clinking the glasses ,one should only touch the ones to the left and right.To touch others is redundant and shows low class.This glass touching it done to show group unity,solidarity if you wish. --------------------- I heard this on a Movie - Tortilla Soup - It's somewhat paraphrased: You clink classes in order to experience the 5 senses: Clink glasses to 'hear' the toast - Touch the glass - See the color of the wine - smell the fragrance - taste the flavor. Seems reasonable to me ! ---------------------

Answer 2

There can be various answers to this question but the common notion that this was done so as to spill a little wine into each other's glasses thereby ensuring that the drinks are not poisoned is not true. This custom is relatively new. Touching your glasses gently is done to incorporate the sense of hearing in the processes of making a toast. Earlier only four out of our 5 senses were gratified.

Some believe that this was done to make sure that the glasses are made of pure crystal but this again is not much of a reason. On a psychological level, touching your glasses and saying cheers brings about a sense of togetherness in people and gets them involved in the merrymaking. Usually on sad occasions, nobody touches the glasses together.