There’s a saying that there are only two things for certain in life, death and taxes. I’ve been paying taxes for a long time. Obviously, I’ve yet to experience my own death, but I have had people close to me die. The drinking traditions that accompany the death of a loved one are interesting to me.

My family, friends and I have often celebrated by drinking after a funeral or in memory of the person that died. Usually we are reminiscing about things the person who passed had done or funny stories of our times with them. I guess that’s our own tradition and one I know most people do. I’d also heard the term “pour one out”. I don’t know where or how that phrase started and realized that there are probably many more traditions around death and drinking so I figured I’d do some research.

Pour One Out

To pour one out would be the act of pouring out a drink on the ground for the celebrated deceased. I’d only ever heard this term used in hip hop culture.

Tupac’s Pour Out a Little Liquor as an example.

Therefore, I thought it was a fairly recent term. Come to find out it’s been used for thousands of years and comes from the word libation. Which is the act of pouring out a drink as an offer to a spirit or in memory of the dead. According to Wikipedia the Sumerians believed the afterlife to be a dark and dreary cavern where the dead could only eat dry dust. They would pour libations into the ground through clay pipes to give the deceased something to drink.

The act of pouring one out has been part of many ancient religious cultures besides the Sumerians. Others include the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Christians among many others. In modern times we continue to see people pour out their alcohol in memory of loved ones. A Cuban a custom is to pour a bit of rum onto the ground and say  “para los santos“. The European country of Georgia celebrates their dead by leaving glasses of wine on the grave sites, usually around Easter.

Day of the Dead

El Día de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead. A holiday celebrated anytime between October 31st and November 6th depending on your location. Widely celebrated in Mexico it is a time to gather as a family to pay respects to their departed family and friends.

One of the many traditions of this holiday is the building of ofrendas (alters). These alters will often be built around the grave of the deceased and include a variety of objects. Some things include Mexican marigolds and various foods. Children who have died will be brought toys and adults might be left with bottles of tequila or mezcal. These offerings are a welcoming gesture to the deceased. It is a belief that the spirits will consume the essence of the items then friends and family can eat or drink what is left. I like this because it feels like sharing a drink with your loved ones!

Russia and Vodka

Vodka has debatable origins with some people saying Poland while others say Russia. Wherever it was created there is often a connection in people’s minds of Vodka and Russia. While it’s origins are debated the word itself, Vodka, has Slavic origins meaning water. Up until 1863 the Russian government held a monopoly on the production and selling of vodka. Once that was repealed, the price of vodka fell and was then available to lower earning people. By 1911 it’s stated that 89% of all alcohol consumed in Russia.

In looking up traditions around the world I thought this one was interesting because it’s unsure out it started. The custom is to leave a glass of vodka with brown bread on top of it at the gravesite of a loved one. It’s thought that the bread is indicative of another tradition which is to break bread with someone when you first meet them. I suppose it’s a full circle tradition. Breaking bread when you meet and leaving it with their final glass of vodka.

Cheers and Health

When I had a podcast I had thought that each guest and I would discuss different ways cultures say cheers. Often the word for cheers in other languages meant “to your health”. Or something equivalent to that. I suppose this is the opposite of those drinking traditions related to death. Here are some examples:

• German: Prost is a Germanized version of the Latin word Prosit, which means “may it be beneficial”. It’s often used in informal gatherings.
• Portuguese: Saúde is similar to the French santé and Spanish salud, and is used to toast to each other’s health.
• Spanish: Salud is commonly used during toasts, but can also be used to express good wishes for health and prosperity. For example, you might hear it if someone sneezes.
• Scandinavian: Skål is used in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish to say “cheers” or “good health”. It can also be used as a salute or toast. The term comes from the tradition of passing wooden bowls of beer around at community gatherings, where skål also means “bowl”.
• French: Santé is pronounced “sahn-tay” and is similar to the phrase “à votre santé”, which means “to your health”. Santé can also be used to say “bless you”, similar to à tes/vos souhaits.
• Farsi: Salamati literally meaning “Well being” or “Healthiness”.

It’s crazy to me that in almost all cultures in history the act of pouring alcohol onto the ground is an offering. While on the other hand “cheers” is a call to long life. I suppose that says to me that drinking is life and something we’ll all be able to carry over once we pass.

Your Thoughts

Do you have drinking traditions surrounding death? What are they? How do you say cheers and does it have another meaning? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Comment below or leave a comment on my Instagram.

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