A Pint of Beer for Christmas

[Thesauron]

Since the midwinter blot, an ancient Northern European rite clouded in the fog of history and tales, beer has played an important role at the Swedish festival food table. Beer was a daily drink, but for this festival it was been brewed stronger, richer and sweeter than usual. The vikings "drack jul” (literally, “drank Christmas") to the memory of Odin and Freja, to dead kinsmen and to each other. The transition to Christianity meant no change at all. The beer beaker continued to be lifted, especially during the festival that followed the arrival of Christianity - Christmas, the cross sign was made and you drank to God the Father, Jesus Christ, his holy mother and to the memory of the saints. Even today, toasting is done around the Christmas table. Refusing to drink toast is an insult in Sweden.

Edited December 24, 2017 by Thesauron

[Precision]

  Here is an up building article that briefly explains some toasting origins.   

 

    https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2007128#h=1:0-11:881

 

Edited December 24, 2017 by Precision

[Thesauron]

  Here is an up building article that briefly explains some toasting origins.   
 
    https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2007128#h=1:0-11:881
 

Yes, it probably was some substitute for sacrifice to some god and asking that god to bring good luck or health or whatever when you trace the act back into history. Although, how does it differ from other traditions with a somewhat shady background that people perform today without knowing the background? Is there a difference?

[Tortuga]

7 minutes ago, Thesauron said:

Is there a difference?

 

Do you see a difference?

[Thesauron]

 
Do you see a difference?

Not really, I have to say. Things might have had one meaning in the past, but that meaning has been lost to history, unless you go digging for it. Like brides wearing white. Or wearing engagement or wedding rings. So is there a difference? There has to be one since it’s treated differently, right?

(Note: I am not talking about the fact that the little snipped I wrote was concerning a Christmas toasting tradition involving a special brew with a history reaching back to the midwinter blot festival, but of toasting in general.)

[Old]

22 minutes ago, Thesauron said:

Not really, I have to say. Things might have had one meaning in the past, but that meaning has been lost to history, unless you go digging for it. Like brides wearing white. Or wearing engagement or wedding rings. So is there a difference? There has to be one since it’s treated differently, right?

(Note: I am not talking about the fact that the little snipped I wrote was concerning a Christmas toasting tradition involving a special brew with a history reaching back to the midwinter blot festival, but of toasting in general.)

2

Thank you for the clarification.

I have difficulty understanding why pinatas are acceptable and toasting is not.  They both go back to religious beginnings. 

I don't toast and don't encourage pinatas.

Of the two, I view modern day toasting as the "lesser of two weevils."

 

Edited to include gingerbread cookies and wedding rings. How many weevils are out there? 

Edited December 24, 2017 by Old

[Thesauron]

Thank you for the clarification.
I have difficulty understanding why pinatas are acceptable and toasting is not.  They both go back to religious beginnings. 
I don't toast and don't encourage pinatas.
Of the two, I view modern day toasting as the "lesser of two weevils."

I don’t do toasting, and I don’t do piñatas. (Too much crushing stuff for my taste. Also, I’m not in Mexico.) Not because of any firm conviction, really.

[Tortuga]

7 minutes ago, Old said:

I have difficulty understanding why pinatas are acceptable and toasting is not.  They both go back to religious beginnings. 

I don't toast and don't encourage pinatas.

 

It's interesting that where we were raised and how we were raised can affect where we draw the line on some things. I don't toast and intentionally avoid situations where a toast may be given, yet I never thought of any problem with Pinatas. I also don't say 'Good Luck' but I don't kick myself if I accidentally say it...