Drinking vodka, like many other social rituals of people coming together to celebrate, brings with it an undertone of a long and rich history and numerous traditions that have been passed down to us from generation to generation. The accepted rituals of toasting with vodka are ingrained in the culture, history and traditions of Russia, although it has acquired a more international character in this global age. Vodka continues to be a huge part of Russia’s social fabric and interpersonal interactions, and it’s packed with numerous conventions.
Vodka label
Generally, both in Russia and the West, drinking vodka is a group activity. Groups of people take pleasure in drinking vodka when they get together to party, socialize, or hang out; when they celebrate an event in life such as a birth, death, or wedding. Heavy drinking in numerous rounds is common in most of these gatherings. You may see people drinking vodka, on its own, as shots, at traditional Russian gatherings, while most people mix it with something like tonic water or fresh juices.
Make a toast with vodka
In the western world, we suffer from the misconception that the proper toast when drinking vodka is na zdorovie. This is not really an appropriate toast in Russian. It doesn’t really mean “for your health,” as you’ve probably heard often. Instead, try something like za milyh dam, which means lovely ladies, or vashe zdorovie, which means for your health.
Toast with vodka for occasions
The nature of the occasion calls for a particular type of toast, regardless of whether the drink is vodka or a bottle of champagne. Weddings, for example, require a toast to love, happy endings, and many years of marital bliss for the new couple. On the other hand, when toasting a new baby, it is more appropriate to drink for their health and longevity, and the happiness it will bring to their parents’ lives. When toasting a new business, a new home, or some other live event, the occasion will similarly give you a hint of possible and appropriate toasts. For example, at a wake, you should toast the deceased as the first toast, but the glasses should not clink. On birthdays, toast first to the birthday boy and then to his parents. The wedding toasts would be for the couple, then for their parents, moving on to other topics such as love, happy life, etc.
A sequence of toasts with vodka.
Over the course of an evening, hardcore vodka drinkers can progress through a series of toasts. If you are in Russia, drinking vodka with a room full of Russians, the evening can progress through a few common steps. The first toast, made by you or another guest, would be to propose a drink to the host of your party. This will generally be the first in a series of toasts, from one’s noble ancestors, guest / host children, women in company, and abstract concepts like honor, pride, homeland, etc.
Tips and Warnings
Always keep basic etiquette and polite manners in mind, as well as the occasion.
It is better to appear uninformed than to appear rude or risk insulting the host or other guests.
When in doubt about what to say, it is best to say nothing, or to wait and watch and take clues of what others are saying and how it is received.
