Thanksgiving dinner is a perfect opportunity for a toast, one that gives thanks for friends, family and food. While the pre-meal ritual of prayer and reflection usually takes a more serious tone, the Thanksgiving toast should be celebratory and fun.
Never proposed a toast? Here are some tips on saying a few words this Thanksgiving.
There's no need to over-prepare. This isn't a wedding, and no one's expected to give a lengthy speech. Thanksgiving toasts should focus not one one or two people, but on the family (or family of friends) gathered. Poetry isn't necessary, but if you'd like a quote or verse on hand, sites like The Quote Garden offer lots of Thanksgiving quotes for inspiration. Keep it light, and add (appropriate) humor, if you like. On Thanksgiving, you may want to have a group toast where everyone who wants to says a few words, but make sure each toaster keeps it brief, and don't pressure anyone into speaking.
To sit or to stand? It's up to you -- a sitting toast is appropriate for a in intimate family Thanksgiving dinner. If yours is an unusually large dinner with several tables, standing is a good idea if you want to toast the whole group, or at least get everyone's attention.
The drink: Formal toasts usually involve a special drink of some type: A glass of champagne or sparkling cider poured especially for the toast. It's a nice touch if you want to go that extra mile, but not at all necessary. Traditionally, adults toast with an alcoholic beverage, but it's more than fine to toast with a non-alcoholic beverage if you don't drink, or if the dinner is alcohol-free. And kids, of course, are welcome to join in with whatever is in their glass. If you have a stemware glass, raise that; it's more elegant and festive.
Timing: Toasts can be given before the meal starts (after the prayer, if applicable), as the official start of the feast, or after the main course has been cleared, before dessert. Don't spontaneously start a toast while guests are eating or passing serving dishes.
Raise a glass! With a smaller group, everyone can clink their glasses together at once -- don't worry about not touching every glass if you can't reach them. For larger toasts, simply raise your glass. After the glasses are raised, everyone takes one sip together. Cheers!