At the end of day on track, you’ll likely raise a glass and call out “Cheers!” to celebrate your achievements that day but have you ever wondered where that custom comes from?
Toasting is a tradition rich in history and found in many cultures. Its exact origin is unknown, but it likely dates back nearly as far as alcohol itself — over 10,000 years.
In Ancient Greece, people offered wine to the gods during feasts by pouring some onto the ground, seeking blessings or good health. Today, raising a glass skyward is still seen in Greece — a symbolic nod to those ancient offerings.
During the Middle Ages, clinking glasses was a practical gesture. It’s said that splashing drinks from one cup to another ensured no one had been poisoned.
Others believed the loud sound of glasses banging together could drive away evil spirits. In some cultures, like in Germany, drinkers still shout and knock mugs loudly before taking a sip.
Another theory is more sensory: while taste, smell and sight are already engaged when drinking, clinking glasses brings sound into the experience, completing the moment.
Perhaps the most lasting reason for toasting is unity.
In earlier times, guests often drank from a shared bowl or goblet to show trust and togetherness. While we don’t pass around one cup today, we still raise our glasses to one another, a modern version of that ancient gesture.
So when you lift your glass after a rewarding day on the trail, you’re not just marking the end of a journey — you’re continuing a time-honoured ritual of connection, celebration, and goodwill.
So the next time you raise your glass after a fulfilling day on one of our pack-free guided walks, following by a clink and a call of “cheers” you’ll now know you are following a tradition as old as the knights of the Middle Ages.