{"id":1693,"date":"2010-12-21T10:00:54","date_gmt":"2010-12-21T10:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=1693"},"modified":"2014-07-17T14:21:27","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T14:21:27","slug":"russian-toasts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/russian-toasts\/","title":{"rendered":"Russian Toasts: It Is About More Than Drinking"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a persistent stereotype of Russian \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0437\u0434\u043d\u0438\u043a\u00bb<\/strong> [celebration] as an occasion to get drunk and that \u00ab<\/strong>\u0443\u0433\u043e\u0449\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [meal] consists mostly of liquid bread in form of \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [vodka]. Nothing can be further from the truth! From \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u043a\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [appetizers] to \u00ab<\/strong>\u0441\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u043a\u043e\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [dessert], Russian holiday table is \u00ab<\/strong>\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u0438\u0442\u0441\u044f <\/strong>\u043e\u0442 <\/strong>\u0435\u0434\u044b<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [loaded with food]. After all, \u00ab\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u0433\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u0443\u0441 <\/strong>\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0434\u0451<\/span>\u0442<\/strong>\u00bb [the more grub you pick, the less will be the kick<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Still, there will be a fair amount of drinking involved. Which means, of course, that there\u2019s going to be a fair number of toasts to listen to. After all, \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u0438\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u0431\u0435\u0437 <\/strong>\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0430 – <\/strong>\u044d<\/span><\/strong>\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u043f\u044c\u044f<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e\u00bb<\/strong> [drinking without toasting is a sign of alcoholism].<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s another stereotype that\u2019s going to get busted. For some reason Americans think that \u00ab<\/strong>\u041d\u0430 <\/strong>\u0437\u0434\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044c\u0435!\u00bb<\/strong> is a typical Russian toast. Wrong!!! First of all, \u00ab<\/strong>\u043d\u0430 <\/strong>\u0437\u0434\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044c\u0435!\u00bb<\/strong> is what one says after being thanked and thus translates as \u201cYou\u2019re welcome!\u201d (try to use that as a toast and see how ridiculous it sounds).<\/p>\n

Second of all, there\u2019s no single typical Russian toast, mostly because there are so many great and popular \u00ab<\/strong>\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u044b\u00bb<\/strong> [toasts] for all occasions. Some are short:<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0417\u0430 <\/strong>\u0442\u0435\u0431\u044f<\/span>!\u00bb<\/strong> [to you!] – means both to your success and to your health as well as to your overall wellbeing and to you being a great guy\/gal.<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0417\u0430 <\/strong>\u0437\u043d\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u043c\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e!\u00bb<\/strong> [to meeting each other!]<\/p>\n

Others are longer, sometimes going on and on like little stories or fables:<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0414\u0430\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u0442\u0435 \u0447\u043e<\/span>\u043a\u043d\u0435\u043c\u0441\u044f\u00a0<\/strong>\u0437\u0430 \u0414\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u0430 \u041c\u043e\u0440\u043e<\/span>\u0437\u0430 \u0438 \u0421\u043d\u0435\u0433\u0443<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0443. \u041e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043d\u0435 \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u044e\u0442, \u043d\u0435 \u0431\u043e\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u044e\u0442 \u0438 \u0432\u0441\u0435\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span> \u043d\u0430\u0445\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u044f\u0442 \u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u044c\u0433\u0438 \u043d\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u043a\u0438! \u0412\u044b<\/span>\u043f\u044c\u0435\u043c \u0437\u0430 \u0442\u043e, \u0447\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u044b \u043c\u044b \u0431\u044b<\/span>\u043b\u0438 \u043a\u0430\u043a \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span>!\u00bb <\/strong><\/p>\n

[Let\u2019s clink glasses to Father Frost and the Snow Maiden. They don\u2019t get old, they don\u2019t get sick and they always have money for lots of gifts! So let\u2019s drink to us becoming more like them!]<\/p>\n

Some toasts are straightforward:<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0417\u0430 \u0442\u043e, \u0447\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u044b \u041d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u0439 \u0413\u043e\u0434 \u0431\u044b\u043b \u043b\u0443<\/span>\u0447\u0448\u0435 \u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u0440\u043e\u0433\u043e!\u00bb<\/strong> [To the New Year being better than the old one!]<\/p>\n

And sometimes they are twisted, requiring more or less \u00ab<\/strong>\u044f<\/span><\/strong>\u0441\u043d\u0430\u044f <\/strong>\u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [clear mind; as in unclouded by alcohol] to understand:<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0414\u0430\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u0442\u0435 \u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043f\u044c\u0435\u043c \u0437\u0430 \u0442\u043e, \u0447\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u044b \u043c\u044b \u0438\u0441\u043f\u044b\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0438 \u0441\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u044f, \u0441\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u043a\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u0435\u043b\u044c \u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0432 \u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0438\u0445 \u0431\u043e\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0430\u0445!\u00bb<\/strong> [Let\u2019s drink to us experiencing as much sorrow as there are drops (of drink) left in our glasses!]<\/p>\n

To make sense of all of this, you must remember that while \u00ab<\/strong>\u0431\u0435\u0437 <\/strong>\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0434\u0430 <\/strong>\u043f\u0438\u0442\u044c <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u044f\u0442\u043e\u00bb <\/strong>[it\u2019s not customary to drink without a reason], \u00ab<\/strong>\u043f\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0434 <\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u0435\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/span> <\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0439\u0434\u0451<\/span>\u0442\u0441\u044f\u00bb<\/strong> [a reason can always be found].<\/p>\n

So the first toast is always to this reason. If it\u2019s a personal celebration – a birthday, marriage, wedding anniversary, graduation, promotion, etc – the first toast is \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430 <\/strong>\u0432\u0438\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0430 <\/strong>\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0436\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0430<\/span>!\u00bb<\/strong> [lit: to the one who\u2019s responsible for the celebration]:<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0417\u0430 <\/strong>\u043c\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u043e\u0436\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u043e\u0432!\u00bb<\/strong> [to the newlyweds!]<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0417\u0430 \u0438\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0430!\u00bb<\/strong> [to the birthday boy!] or \u00ab<\/strong>\u0417\u0430 <\/strong>\u0438\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0443!\u00bb<\/strong> [to the birthday girl!]<\/p>\n

If the reason is some sort of a public holiday – New Year, International Women\u2019s Day, Victory Day – the first toast is to the holiday itself or to those who are celebrated:<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0421 \u041d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044b\u043c \u0413\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u043e\u043c!\u00bb<\/strong> [Happy New Year!]<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0417\u0430 <\/strong>\u0436\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0449\u0438\u043d!\u00bb<\/strong> [To women!]<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0417\u0430 <\/strong>\u0437\u0430\u0449\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u0438\u043a\u043e\u0432 <\/strong>\u0420\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u0438\u043d\u044b!\u00bb<\/strong> [To the defenders of the Motherland!]<\/p>\n

The second toast acknowledges the guests and invites them to drink essentially to each other\u2019s and their own health and wellbeing. Whether said by \u00ab<\/strong>\u0432\u0438\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043d\u0438\u043a <\/strong>\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0436\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u00bb<\/strong> [the celebrant] or by someone else, the second toast is \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430 <\/strong>\u0432\u0441\u0435\u0445 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0441\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0443\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0445\u00bb<\/strong> [to all who are present] and can be made by anyone. Sometimes \u00ab<\/strong>\u043e\u0442\u0441\u0443<\/span>\u0442\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0443\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0435\u00bb<\/strong> [those who couldn\u2019t make it for whatever reason] are included in this toast as well.<\/p>\n

The third toast is usually \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430 <\/strong>\u0440\u043e\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u0439\u00bb<\/strong> [to parents], whether they are still alive or passed away:<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0422\u0430\u043a \u0434\u0430\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u0442\u0435 \u0436\u0435 \u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043f\u044c\u0435\u043c \u0437\u0430 \u0440\u043e\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u0439, \u043f\u0440\u0430\u0440\u043e\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u0439 \u0438 \u043f\u0440\u0430\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0440\u043e\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u0439, \u043a\u043e\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0440\u044b\u0435 \u0441\u0443\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u0438, \u043a \u043a\u0430\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0435 \u0431\u044b \u0442\u044f\u0436\u0451<\/span>\u043b\u043e\u0435 \u0432\u0440\u0435<\/span>\u043c\u044f \u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span> \u043d\u0435 \u0436\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u0438, \u0432\u044b<\/span>\u0440\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0442\u044c \u0441\u0432\u043e\u0438<\/span>\u0445 \u0434\u0435\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u0439 \u0438 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u043b\u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c \u0441\u0435\u043c\u044c\u044e<\/span>!\u00bb<\/strong> [Let\u2019s raise our glasses to our parents, our grandparents and great-grandparents, who hardships notwithstanding, were able to raise their children and to continue the family!]<\/p>\n

While toasts to parents serve as reflections on the past, toasts to children and children\u2019s children express hopes for the future. After all, \u00ab\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0438 – \u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0435 \u0431\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u0443\u0449\u0435\u0435. \u0422\u0430\u043a \u0432\u044b<\/span>\u043f\u044c\u0435\u043c \u0437\u0430 \u0441\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u043b\u043e\u0435 \u0438 \u0441\u0447\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043b\u0438<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u0435 \u0431\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u0443\u0449\u0435\u0435!\u00bb<\/strong> [Children are our future. Let\u2019s raise our glasses to a bright and happy future!]<\/p>\n

Finally, \u00ab<\/strong>\u043a\u0443\u043b\u044c\u0442\u0443<\/span>\u0440\u044b\u0435 <\/strong>\u0433\u043e<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0438\u00bb<\/strong> [well-mannered guests] will always toast \u00ab<\/strong>\u0445\u043e\u0437\u044f<\/span>\u0439\u043a\u0430\u00bb<\/strong> [the hostess] for all the care and effort she put into preparing the party. They will also jokingly toast \u00ab<\/strong>\u0445\u043e\u0437\u044f<\/span>\u0438\u043d\u00bb<\/strong> [the host] \u00ab<\/strong>\u0437\u0430 <\/strong>\u0442\u043e, <\/strong>\u0447\u0442\u043e <\/strong>\u043d\u0435 <\/strong>\u043c\u0435\u0448\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u00bb<\/strong> [because he didn\u2019t get in the way] while the hostess was getting things ready.<\/p>\n

Aside from these toasts, any number of other toasts can be made regardless of the occasion, including:<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0417\u0430 <\/strong>\u043f\u0440\u0435\u043a\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u043d\u044b\u0445 <\/strong>\u0434\u0430\u043c!\u00bb<\/strong> [To the beautiful ladies!]<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0417\u0430 <\/strong>\u043d\u0430\u0441, <\/strong>\u043c\u0443\u0436\u0438\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0432!\u00bb<\/strong> [To us, the guys!]<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u0417\u0430 \u043b\u044e\u0431\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u044c!\u00bb<\/strong> [To love!]<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0417\u0430 <\/strong>\u0434\u043e\u043b\u0433\u043e\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0438\u0435!\u00bb<\/strong> [To long life!]<\/p>\n

\u00ab<\/strong>\u0417\u0430 <\/strong>\u0441\u0435\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u043d\u043e\u0435 <\/strong>\u0441\u0447\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u044c\u0435!\u00bb<\/strong> [To happy family life!] and many, many others.<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s a perfect New Year\u2019s toast:<\/p>\n

\u00ab\u041f\u0443\u0441\u0442\u044c \u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0448\u0430 \u0436\u0438\u0437\u043d\u044c \u0432 \u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u043e\u043c \u0433\u043e\u0434\u0443<\/span> \u0431\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u0435\u0442 \u043a\u0430\u043a \u0448\u0430\u043c\u043f\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0435 \u2014 \u043b\u0451<\/span>\u0433\u043a\u043e\u0439, \u0432\u043e\u043b\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u044e\u0449\u0435\u0439, \u043f\u0440\u0435\u043a\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0441\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0438 \u0431\u044c\u044e<\/span>\u0449\u0435\u0439 \u0447\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0435\u0437 \u043a\u0440\u0430\u0439!\u00bb<\/strong> [Wishing that our lives in the New Year will be like a drink of Champaign – light, exciting, beautiful and full of energy!]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

There\u2019s a persistent stereotype of Russian \u00ab\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0437\u0434\u043d\u0438\u043a\u00bb [celebration] as an occasion to get drunk and that \u00ab\u0443\u0433\u043e\u0449\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435\u00bb [meal] consists mostly of liquid bread in form of \u00ab\u0432\u043e\u0434\u043a\u0430\u00bb [vodka]. Nothing can be further from the truth! From \u00ab\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0443\u0441\u043a\u0438\u00bb [appetizers] to \u00ab\u0441\u043b\u0430\u0434\u043a\u043e\u0435\u00bb [dessert], Russian holiday table is \u00ab\u043b\u043e\u043c\u0438\u0442\u0441\u044f \u043e\u0442 \u0435\u0434\u044b\u00bb [loaded with food]. After all, \u00ab\u0437\u0430\u043a\u0443\u0441\u043a\u0430 \u0433\u0440\u0430\u0434\u0443\u0441…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":1694,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,913,7826],"tags":[13092,1166,1211,1240,13093],"class_list":["post-1693","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-traditions","category-when-in-russia","tag-celebrating-holidays-in-russia","tag-new-year","tag-russia","tag-russian-holidays","tag-russian-toasts"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1693","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1693"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1693\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6253,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1693\/revisions\/6253"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1693"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1693"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1693"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}