The word cheers comes from the old French word ‘chiere’.
Just as people say hello before talking on the phone, similarly they often say cheers while drinking alcohol, but the question arises why the same words are said while spilling the glass. How did the word cheers enter into the context of liquor? The word cheers comes from the old French word ‘chiere’. Which means face or head. In the 18th century, this word was used to express happiness or to inspire someone.
Gradually this word became associated with alcohol and today The word ‘cheers’ is said before enjoying the liquor. It started for many reasons. Know why people say cheers before drinking alcohol.
Connection of the word alcohol and cheers?
Different theories have been given behind this word. One theory says that in ancient times, people used to collide glasses with each other to protect themselves from poison. Used to shout cheers loudly. In those times, making someone drink alcohol mixed with poison was the most common method of murder. Therefore, it was believed that if the glasses were filled and hit together rapidly, a little liquid from each glass would flow into the other glasses. In this way it will be ensured that if there is poison in the glass then the risk of death is less.
association with evil spirits
In the Middle Ages, people would clink glasses together and make loud cheers to ward off evil spirits or demons. People would even spill a little of the liquid on the floor by clinking the glass, in the hope that this drink would be left for evil spirits to prevent the drinker from becoming their victim.
The process of saying cheers has also been linked to God. According to the International Handbook of Alcohol and Culture, this process probably originated from sacrifices made to the gods, when blood or wine was offered to them before the sacrifice. In exchange for this wine or blood, people used to present their wishes to God.In this way the tradition of cheering by placing liquor or blood in front of God was strengthened.
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