The Silent Toast
David Anson 03/01/2009 08:57 AM
The Royal Scots Club Emblem
A guest at a formal dinner hosted by ex-members of The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) at The Royal Scots Club in Edinburgh unfamiliar with certain Scots traditions might be bewildered to witness a curious ceremonial toast taking place after the meal: The Silent Toast.
"Silent Toasts" made solemnly without verbal agreement or touching glasses are widely accepted as appropriate for honouring a recently departed friend or a fallen hero in many cultures, especially among the military. For this reason the precise protocol needs to be well learned. It has long been regularly practised at formal dinners hosted by The Royal Scots and their associated organisations. The record of the first Harmony Meeting of Lodge Queen's Edinburgh Rifles (The Royal Scots) No. 1253, records “Here was inaugurated the Silent Toast, which is proposed by the Right Worshipful to our fallen comrades at every Harmony Meeting.”
The toast is drunk in turn round the table with each guest drinking to his neighbour. Traditionally, the one Quaich (from Scots Gaelic, meaning ‘cup’) would be used and passed but often in these sad days of PC and hygiene paranoia each will drain their own glass and kiss its upturned base, but I make no apology for here stating the historically correct form: When the guest about to drink stands up those on either side of him also rise. The guest on one side stands with his back to the one who is about to drink so as to protect him from attack. The latter and the guest on his side bow to each other, the second guest removes the cover, the first guest drinks, and wipes the rim of the cup with a napkin provided, and the second guest replaces the cover and the two bow to each other again. The same procedure is followed by the second guest with his next neighbour, the first guest meantime mounting guard, and the one who has been protecting him sits down again. Thus it proceeds until all have made the toast.
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Gayle Olson 03/18/2009 09:14 AM
What a touching ceremony! I'm particularly struck by the role of the guest in the protecting role. I think that as we have informalized so much of our society, we have lost some very meaningful rituals that could help us recognize and appreciate the contributions and sacrifices of people in our lives, our connectedness to one another, and our responsibilities to the people and tasks that remain. Even though we each as individuals may reflect on such a loss, there is value in social customs where we can share the remembrance and honor. This is a beautiful way to do so. Thank you for explaining it here.
John Macpherson 03/19/2009 06:57 AM
We have also used this process, the "quaich" is always passed "clockwise" (right to left), in our case we do not cover the "quaich", if it should run dry, the person who finished it tops it up having passed the empty "quaich" on, the "guard" remains standing protecting the back of the "replenisher" until he completes the task, turns about and takes his post as "guard", at this point the "old guard" can sit down.
In a Mess the whole event is done without weapons, however, if the toast is done outdoors, weapons are carried and the "guard" would draw his sword or dirk, and would only resheath after the next "guard" has handed over the "quaich" and turned about and drawn his weapon. The "guards" hand over without saying anything but signalled by kissing the blade of their weapon.
This practice, as you say is carried out, normally for a deceased, and is carried out in silence.
However, it can also be used as a welcome to a new member, and in this case, the name of the newcomer is said before taking a sip from the "quaich" and saying "slainte mhath" afterwards.