The toast has become a popular feature of celebrations across the country. Though most commonly associated with weddings, toasts are now routinely made at less formal gatherings as well. But when and where did the toast start? While it's difficult to pinpoint exactly who initiated the first toast, one theory suggests this popular, and often funny, tradition dates back to the ancient Greeks in the 6th century B.C. At the time, Greeks would commonly spike the drinks of their enemies with poison. Party guests
were understandably leery of accepting beverages, usually wine poured from a common jug. So to put all guests at ease, the Greek toast tradition actually called for the host to drink from his glass first to assure his guest that the drink was not poisoned. Another common feature of toasts today is the
clinking of the glasses, which also might have its origins in ancient times, when guests were said to clink their glasses as a means of warding off evil spirits.
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