 | Rod Baumberger
is a Fitness Specialist at Health Strategies/Life Strategies Foundation. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Fitness Management from Newman University. In addition to his other duties, Rodney is an education coordinator in pulmonary rehabilitation and is a senior initiative coordinator. You may reach Rodney at Health Strategies, (316) 651-8015, or at the facility at 551 N Hillside, Wichita, KS 67214. |
Diet & Nutrition
2004-03-01 15:44:00
How about some Irish toasts?
Rod Baumberger
Question: Do you have any Irish toasts and traditions?
ANSWER: The custom of toasting has been around for thousands of years. Some even claim that toasting is only a day or two younger than drinking itself. Primitive toasting dates back to Nomadic tribes who splattered a few drops of drink on sacrificial altars to appease the hunting Gods. According to historian Paul Dickson, "the first application of the word occurred in Bath, England in 1709." The story is told, "a 'noted beauty' of that fair city was seen bathing in public, when an admirer-so taken by her loveliness, filled a cup with the bath water and drank it in her honor! Soon after, another admirer (admittedly half-cocked) declared his admiration for the lady, but his revulsion for the bath water. He instead, offered to eat toast in her honor and the term stuck."The Irish, thanks in large part to St. Patrick's lasting influence, were one of the few literate people in Europe throughout the dark ages. Most Irish get their first practice at storytelling, blarney, and other verbal arts in pubs. The verse becomes every bit as rich and flowing as the Guinness. As the glasses fill and empty, patrons tell and retell their tales, polishing and refining their noble art. Here are just a few examples of Irish wit and wordplay. Raise a glass and pass on the tradition, St. Patrick would be pleased!"May the face of every good news and the back of every bad news be toward us.""May the roof above us never fall in, and may we friends gathered below never fall out.""May the grass grow long on the road to hell for want of use.""Oh, women's faults are many, us men have only two: every single thing we say, and everything we do."The Irish were not the inventors of the toast, they merely perfected the art form.
