9 Thanksgiving Toasts — Classic, Modern, And A Little Wacky (Slideshow)
No matter what the vibe is at your dinner table, we've compiled some quotes to help you get started. So break out the pen and paper, and raise your glass. Here's to giving a toast that no one will be able to forget!
The Football Family
One of the most definitive Thanksgiving traditions is holiday football games. If your family is the sort who plans your dinner around kickoff time and the oft-dreaded halftime show, take this classic Erma Bombeck quote as a basis for your toast: "Thanksgiving dinners take 18 hours to prepare. They are consumed in 12 minutes. Half times take 12 minutes. This is not coincidence." Wrap it up with cheers to the big game and dig in... you have football to get back to!
The Friendsgiving Family
Whether you're throwing a Friendsgiving before Thanksgiving itself or spending the day with friends instead of family, celebrate the loveliness of drinking with this literary toast your buddies will surely appreciate:
"Here's to alcohol, the rose-colored glasses of life." — F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Funny Family
Can your family poke a bit of fun at itself (and Thanksgiving)? Before perhaps transitioning into a more heartfelt toast, kick off your holiday message by channeling the legendary Johnny Carson: "Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often." After all the laughs, toast to your genuine happiness for finally being together this holiday season.
The Hungry Family
Thanksgiving is, after all, the holiday of food. And for a day filled with good food and good company, why not pay homage to your feast by kicking off your Toast by quoting Virginia Woolf: "One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well." Then raise your glass to the bounty on the table and those who are there to share it.
The Mildly Inappropriate Family
Jim Gaffigan once said, "Thanksgiving. It's like we didn't even try to come up with a tradition. The tradition is, we overeat. 'Hey, how about at Thanksgiving we just eat a lot?' 'But we do that every day!' 'Oh. What if we eat a lot with people that annoy the hell out of us?'" If your family is sarcastic and maybe willing to admit that some Thanksgiving traditions are truly bizarre, tap into your inner comedian with this humorous observation. Then give a smirk to those who annoy you and drink with them — you may all need it.
The Patriotic Family
Thanksgiving is the American holiday for expressing gratitude to your fellow man, despite your differences. In these divisive times, bring everyone together with this powerful Cory Booker quote: "Patriotism is love of country. But you can't love your country without loving your countrymen and countrywomen. We don't always have to agree, but we must empower each other, we must find the common ground, we must build bridges across our differences to pursue the common good." Toast to the common good, which is needed more now than ever.
The Religious Family
For religious families out there, Thanksgiving is an opportune time to give thanks to God. After your pre-meal prayer, keep the day meaningful and humble with these words:
"Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will draw our hearts out to God and keep us engaged with Him; it will take our attention from ourselves and give the Spirit room in our hearts." — Andrew Murray
Then, thank God for what he has given you and toast to Him and your family this holiday.
The Sentimental Family
For a family that truly loves one another (and isn't afraid to express that), Thanksgiving is just one day of many to celebrate life, love, and the things that you have in life. If you want tears, take inspiration from this quote and pen a lengthy, sentimental toast:
"I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual." – Henry David Thoreau
From there, honor your family for being in your life and offer a simple: "to being grateful." There won't be a dry eye at the table.
The Truly Grateful Family
Edward Sandford Martin once said, "Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow." Use this as inspiration for your toast if your family has been through hardships this year but has come out of it with a thankful, positive attitude. Focus on looking forward and filling your days with love; drink to gratitude.