Twenty Christmas and New Years Toasts

"Well, here's mud in your eye!" Sometime this week, at parties or a gathering of your friends or co-workers, someone, somewhere, will say the most overused words of the season besides "Merry Christmas:" It's usually because they're at a loss for words when asked to give a toast. Put a drink in anyone's hand, or several, and for most people the words fly right out of their heads. It's one of the few times most everybody is speechless -- if only this happened more often!

Between the Thanksgiving turkey, the Christmas ham, and the inevitable broken New Year's Day resolution, there are lots of ways to wish your friends and family a holiday brimming with good cheer and a bright New Year ahead. A few good words, spoken with a little fun or sincerity, can be a moment that everyone will remember -- or just try to remember the morning after! So, out with the Skol unless you're from Scandinavia, and drop the na zdorovia if your grandfather doesn't hail from Warsaw. Here are some good words when you're asked to make a toast this Christmas or New Years. And when you're finished with your words of wisdom, don't forget the advice from Harry Craddock, the great barman from the Savoy Hotel in London: "Drink your cocktail quickly -- while it's still laughing at you!"

CHRISTMAS TOASTS

To Christmas: Here's to the day of good will, cold weather, and warm hearts.

Joy to the world -- and especially to you.

Holly and ivy hanging up, and something good in every cup!

A Merry Christmas this December, to a lot of folks I don't remember. (Franklin P. Adams)

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, a pocket full of money and a cellar full of beer!

May heaven send you many, many happy days. (Shakespeare).

Pour more wine and drink your beer, Christmas comes but once a year.

Peace and prosperity for all the Christmases to come!

If you can't be merry at Christmas, then you can drive the rest of us home when we are!

May all your sheep have lambs -- but not on Christmas night. (Irish)

NEW YEARS TOASTS

As we start the New Year let's get down on our knees and thank God we're still on our feet!

New years, full pockets, and good drinks.

To friends, as long as we are able, let's lift our glasses from the table.

May the wine brighten our minds and strengthen our resolutions!

A jolly good smoke, a well-turned joke,
a handful of trumps when you play;
a drop of old wine, Champagne that's fine,
and a run of good luck from today!

Thirst, first -- then let the New Year do its worst!

The Lord gives us our relatives. Thank God we can choose our friends.

My friends are the best friends --
loyal, willing, and able.
Now let's get to drinking --
All glasses off the table!

What harm in drinking can there be,
Since punch and life so well agree? (Blacklock)

Here's to our guests, don't let them rest,
keep their elbows bending;
Tis time to drink, full time to think
tomorrow -- when they're mending.

The next time you're asked to make a toast, there's no reason to be at a loss for good wishes. Have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!