Alcoholic beverages appeared a long time ago, bringing culture and etiquette to their use in human life. A lot of traditions, rules of the feast and winged expressions are associated with alcohol. One of the phrases known and beloved by people related to its use is: “drink on brudershaft”. What does this expression mean and what is the history of its occurrence?
The story of the catch phrase
According to one version, the tradition associated with the word "Brudershaft" came to us from Europe, where during the Middle Ages this ritual meant the preservation of good relations and good intentions at the table throughout the feast. Brudershaft guaranteed fraternal support, consolidated peace between the soldiers, signified purity of intentions. In especially solemn cases, a drop of blood was added to the glasses, which fastened the friendships with a blood oath.
According to other sources, the habit of “drinking at Brudershaft” was widespread among lovers. Following the draining of the glasses to the bottom, the couple was supposed to hold their lips together with a deep kiss. If the glass of one of the lovers contained poison sprinkled with the other half, a kiss would mean death for two. Thus, the special ritual of drinking alcohol was a kind of proof of the love and honesty of a couple in love with each other.
The meaning of tradition
The term "Brudershaft" (Brüderschaft) - is translated from German as "fraternity", "association". However, in the Russian language the meaning of the word "Brudershaft" is understood somewhat differently. The psychological meaning of this phrase means changing the official feast to a pleasant, friendly atmosphere, moving from a dry “you” to a closer “you”. This is a bonding of friendly relations with a special rite, the essence of which is the simultaneous draining by two participants of a feast of glasses or glasses with hands closed at the elbows.
At the same time, if a man and a woman drink, the ritual must be fixed with a kiss, because after the brudershaft the barrier is destroyed, the line that keeps people at a distance is blurred, and they become a little closer. It is also believed during the process to look into each other's eyes. The tradition of “drinking at Brudershaft” is acceptable at a romantic evening by candlelight, giving the date a special zest, a mysterious accent, like a silent promise of something bright and unusual ...
Brudershaft etiquette
Bonding a friendly union with a special type of draining glasses - the Brudershaft ritual, you need to have an idea not only of what follows, but also know the etiquette of the process. And the etiquette rules in this tradition are as follows: holding a glass or glass in your hand (usually right), cross your elbows with the second participant and, looking into each other's eyes, drain the selected alcoholic beverage to the bottom. According to psychologists, the tradition of “drinking at Brudershaft” is a means to increase sympathy and rapprochement between people.
Having completed this act of friendly agreement, you can safely turn to your vis-à-vis “you”, clap him on the shoulder - in general, do everything that is accepted between good friends. If, on the day after a fun feast, your newly made friend does not want to follow the Brudershaft rule and continue to maintain friendly relations, in no case do not insist on the contrary. Similarly, not wanting to make friends with anyone, it is better to politely refuse an unwanted ritual.
Wedding Brudershaft
The tradition of “drinking at Brudershaft” also entered the list of wedding formalities, being a prelude to the first kiss of the newlyweds at the festive table. Obeying the power of this ritual, the couple drink champagne from glasses fastened with a ribbon. The ceremony ends not with restrained fraternal, but with a deep kiss in a sign of love and fidelity. Having dried the glasses, the bride and groom throw them over his left shoulder.
In fact, the Brudershaft is just a beautiful tradition designed to decorate a celebration or feast. After all, it is unlikely that you decide to call a person your friend, just because you were participants in this ritual with him yesterday.