How to Make a Traditional Irish Toast

There are several occasions in Irish culture that call for a toast. Among the occasions are Christmas, New Year's, Saint Patrick's Day, birthdays and recognizing the importance of good friends. Read on to find the appropriate traditional Irish toast for an upcoming occasion.

Instructions

1. Determine what occasion you will celebrate and pick the appropriate traditional Irish toast to match. Give everyone you are toasting a pint of ale (or other drink of their choice). Stand in a spot where everyone can hear and see you clearly. Raise your glass as you begin to speak.

2. Celebrate Christmas. "May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door, and happiness be guided to your home by the candle of Christmas."

3. Ring in the New Year. "In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship but never in want."

4. Remember Saint Patrick. "Saint Patrick was a gentleman, who through strategy and stealth, drove all the snakes from Ireland. Here's a toasting to his health. But not too many toastings lest you lose yourself and then forget the good Saint Patrick and see all those snakes again."

5. Chose a birthday toast. "May you live to be 100 years, with one extra year to repent." "May the good Lord take a liking to you...but not too soon!" "May you die in bed at 95, shot by a jealous spouse."

6. Toast the happy couple on their wedding day."May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings, slow to make enemies and quick to make friends. And may you know nothing but happiness from this day forward. May your home always be too small to hold all your friends. Here's an Irish toast to your wedding: may the roof over your heads be as well thatched as those inside are well matched."

7. Recite any of the following to toast good friends. "May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty." "May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten every load. May the mist of Irish magic shorten every road... And may all your friends remember all the favors you are owed!" "I have known many, and liked not a few, but loved only one and this toast is to you."

Tips & Warnings

• Rehearse the traditional Irish toast several times before the event so the toast sounds natural.