The ancient ritual of toasting is synonymous with the holidays and other special occasions; it is a show of hospitality and friendship that is both elegant and fun. Honor those you spend time with by offering a toast to celebrate the New Year by following these simple guidelines:

1.  You may drink a toast with any beverage; it doesn't have to be champagne. Wine, milk, water and juice are all acceptable.  

2.   If you don't care for what is in your glass, or if you find your glass is empty when it is time to toast, fake it! Quietly raise your glass to your lips and pretend. No one should be looking at you that closely to notice but by not raising your glass, you would give the impression that you don't join in the offering of good wishes.

3.   If you are the one proposing the toast, keep it short and simple. Remember -- Begin, Be Brief, Be Seated.

4.   If you are the subject of the toast, you do not drink (and you may remain seated.) As there is a tendency to automatically drink from a glass when holding it, it is acceptable to leave your glass on the table and refrain from picking it up at all. 

There are two traditional toasts:

The first is a welcome toast offered by the host before everyone begins eating. The host may remain seated if it is a small group, and here, everyone drinks in response. If your host does not seem inclined to offer a toast at the start of the meal, it is perfectly acceptable to quietly ask if you may offer one yourself. 

The second is a toast to a guest of honor, offered when dessert is served. The host rises and offers a toast to acknowledge accomplishments, a relationship or special occasion. Everyone drinks to this toast except for the guest of honor (again, you don't drink a toast to yourself.)

It is important to return a toast!  The guest of honor should rise and offer a sincere thanks for the host's kind and generous words, then include some wonderful things about the host, finishing with "Please join me in a toast to ________."  It's always important to let everyone know when to drink, so include a signal of some sort.

At this point, the toasting may end... or other guests may then begin offering toasts of their own!