Scandinavian Skoaling Etiquette

The custom in Scandinavia is believed to have had its origins in the Stonge Age, and certainly can be traced back to the Vikings, say various historical sources. It is just as correct to skoal with water or with soft drink, as it is with still wine, champagne, the liqueurs, or the Scandinavian national beverages of beer and aquavit.

When “Skoaling” in Scandinavia,You’re Supposed to Use Your Eyes, Too

Copenhagen, Denmark (UPI) 
Lifting a glass to toast the health of dining companions is a custom prescribed in many countries of the world. In the United States, on informal occasions, the message to go with the toast usually is the simple “cheers.” Maybe the glasses are touched. This is the British toast too. In Germany, the toastmaster says “prosit.” In Italian, it’s “la sua salute.” In Spanish, “salud,” in French “a votre sante” and in Japanese, “kampaii.” 

In Scandinavia, the fine art of drinking to the health of friends has been polished and aged so well through the centuries, that to think of these Nordic peoples is to think almost automatically, of their “skaal,” or “skoal,” as it has been Anglicized. Fifteen women reporters from North and South America, Western Europe and Japan on a two weeks tour of Denmark, Norway and Sweden have been “skoaled” so , frequently that when we hear the salute to our good health we automatically lift a glass, look at our host and sip even if we’ve switched to mineral water. Matter of fact, it is just as correct to skoal with water or with soft drink, as it is with still wine, champagne, the liqueurs, or the Scandinavian national beverages of beer and aquavit.

The custom in Scandinavia is believed to have had its origins in the Stonge Age, and certainly can be traced back to the Vikings, say various historical sources. “Skaal” in Danish literally means bowl, and is a word earned over from ancient days when a guest or guests would be welcomed into a home by the host’s presentation of a bowl of grain or other food. Presenting the food was a symbol of friendship. The tradition held, but as time passed, beverages were substituted for the grain.

The proper way to “skoal,” the Danish Information Office says, is for the host first to raise a glass— no one sips before the host has offered the toast— and look around at the guests at the table, then directly into the eyes of one particular guest, say “skoal,” drink, then look into the same pair of eyes again. A guest may offer a skoal to his host, but never to the hostess. But the hostess may offer a “skoal” to the guests.

At a large dinner party, with say 25 or 30 persons present, this “skoaling” for each individual gets so long drawn out that usually the host offers that eye-to-eye “skoal” to one or two guests, then gives everyone a chance to sip without all the formalities, by offering what is known as the “round skoal.” This one is a toast offered to all at the table, and after that first sip and glance at the host or the person across the table from you guests may lift glasses without the repetition of “skoal” each time.

In Norway, one way to get the evening’s protocol out of the way rapidly, was to offer an all-embracing “skoal around the coast.’’ I asked one Danish gentleman if there was etiquette for “skoal” when a boy dates a girl. “The same rule applies,” he said, “The boy looks into her eyes, says 'skoal,' sips, and looks into her eyes again.” “Wonderful,” he said, “for abetting romance.” — The Desert Sun, 1963

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