A brief history as to why we say ‘cheers’ when drinking
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It’s widely accepted that the custom of toasting originates back to the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans. It is known that they would give offerings to the gods during ceremonial banquets. Those present would raise their wine-filled drinking cups in honour of the dead and to the health of the living.
It’s customary in English-speaking countries to say “cheers” while raising your glass and clinking them with those in your company. This might be before sipping your wine at dinner or gulping down a few beers with your mates at the pub. But, have you ever wondered why exactly it is we say “cheers”?
A Universal Gesture
The gesture of sharing a drink is a universal language of friendship and celebration around the world. Across the globe, making a simple toast ahead of drinking alcohol is the done thing. In the Netherlands they say “proost”, the Czech say “na zdravi”, in France it’s “sante”, the Italians say “cin cin” or ‘salute’ and in Mexico, it’s “salud”.
However, all of those phrases basically mean the same thing, which is ”to your health”. Universally, almost all phrases associated with toasting are either a reference to good health, or future prosperity, or both.
The English ‘cheers’ has been shortened from the phrase to ‘have good cheer’, or to put it more simply ‘be happy’. For most of us, I guess it’s pretty difficult to separate health and wealth, from happiness. It is thought the word ‘cheers’ originated from the old French word chiere which meant “face” or “head. In medieval times ‘cheer’ originally meant mood.
By the 18th century, the word ‘cheer’ had begun to be only associated with good humour. There doesn’t seem to be any precise record as to when ‘cheers’ entered the English vernacular as a word with its present-day use. However, it’s generally thought it was around the end of WWI that the phrase began to catch on.
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