How to Make a Toast on St. Patrick's Day

Impromptu bar toasts and free rounds are commonplace on St. Patrick's Day, but not all of them are good. If you prepare before you make a toast, your words may be the best of the night.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Figure out who or what you want to toast. You can toast everything from an amazing song to an amazing night. If you pick a subject, your toast will resonate better with the people around you.

2. Savor the moment. The best toasts encompass the energy of the room. If everyone is laughing and hooting, a funny toast will elicit the most joy. If the room is somber, a more muted toast would be appropriate.

3. Know your crowd. While some Irish toasts like "It is better to spend money like there's no tomorrow than to spend tonight like there's no money" will go over well in some groups, others won't appreciate it. If you're planning to give a bar-wide toast, choose something safe like "Drink up!"

4. Sell it. If make a toast amongst friends, stand up. If it's in a bar, stand on a chair. Make sure to get everyone's attention and share your words of wisdom. However, make sure everyone has a drink first, because you can't have a proper toast without a beverage.

5. Stick to a classic. If all else fails, try this traditional toast: "Here's to a long life and a merry one / A quick death and an easy one / A pretty girl and an honest one / A cold beer--and another one!"

6. End it with class. After your toast ends, yell "cheers" or "bottoms up" to signal it's time to drink. Avoid ending your toast with an inappropriate remark or by exposing yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can, add a little St. Patrick's Day into your toast. It's acceptable to start your toast with a joke about aspects of the holiday, such as green beer or shamrocks.
• If you are giving your toast on St. Patrick's Day, give it with green beer to make the event more festive.
• Avoid cursing in your toast, especially if you're delivering it publicly. Funny, memorable toasts are not always laden with swear words. By inserting them into your toast, you risk offending someone.
• Do not give a public toast in a classy bar. If you find yourself sipping a green martini in a posh bar, it would be inappropriate to attempt a loud, raucous bar-wide toast.