Earlier today I was having an iced tea with a friend and we 'saluted' then she put the glass back on the table then drank from it. I asked her of the significance of this and she said she'd tell me another time......? Any ideas?

Hi there!

I had a friend do that too, touching the table with the glass, before drinking it... what's up with that?

By the way, there is no accent over the "e", it's just "salute" - you were toasting to each other's health.

I had a friend explain it to me that you raise your glass to the sky (and heaven) and then confirm (he used the word "ribadire") the glass to the table (symbolizing the "terra") and then drink.
I guess it could be interpreted as "a drink to the heavens here on earth".
Remember the drink should contain alcohol, be in a glass (not plastic), you should make eye contact as you are touching and blah blah blah when toasting. Are there any other rules I'm missing?

Jeffo

Clinking the glasses on the table is usual in Greece. Esentially, on toasting to someone's health we usually clink the glasses against each other. In Greece they clink them against the table, especially if there is a lot of people. it's like clinking everyone's glass at the same time.

quote:

Remember the drink should contain alcohol, be in a glass (not plastic), you should make eye contact as you are touching and blah blah blah when toasting. Are there any other rules I'm missing?

Jeffo

I laughed out loud. The rules, the rules. I don't drink alcohol, so I toast with a glass of frizzante, and I always get comments...'oh, she doesn't have wine, she can't toast'...grrrrrrrrr! LOL