Seating and Toasts · FFET10422

Toasting at a banquet

At banquets, people raise glasses in greeting and express respect through the order of toasts and the height of their glasses.

Toasting is the custom of raising a glass to hosts or guests at a banquet, often with a few words of good wishes. Descriptions of banquet etiquette place the highest-ranking or most senior host's toast first, with guests circulating after the first round; standing, holding the glass with both hands, and keeping it lower when toasting an elder are ways of showing respect.

What

Toasting means raising a glass to hosts or guests at a banquet, often with good wishes. The custom also gives attention to who offers a toast first and who returns it.^3,4

When

Descriptions of banquet etiquette place the highest-ranking or most senior host's toast first, with others waiting for a toast before drinking. Guests may circulate to offer toasts after the first round. An early ritual text describes a host offering a cup, a guest returning one, and the host offering another, but the consulted page gives no compilation date and does not establish the origin of modern toasting.^1,4

Where

Toasting is described here as a Chinese banquet custom; the available material does not support a regional breakdown.³

How

Commonly described gestures include standing to toast, holding the glass with both hands, and keeping its rim lower when toasting a host or elder. Ganbei asks the other person to finish the glass, while suiyi leaves each person to decide how much to drink.^4,5

Why

Toasting expresses respect through raised glasses and the order of exchanges; lowering a glass when toasting an elder is one such gesture. An explanation of the early village drinking rite also links ordering participants by age with respect for elders.^2,5

Impact and influence

At formal banquets, seating, the order of toasts, and the height of glasses can all express respect for others at the table.^4,5

Sources (5)