There are many versions about the origin of the custom of clinking glasses before a "toast" but due to its originality I am going to stick with what I have called "the toast of death «.
Many of the celebrations / banquets of the Middle Ages (more or less) sought to gather the enemies and be able to eliminate them. The most subtle and least dangerous way was to use poison. So, to show that the contents of the glasses (wine or beer) were not poisoned, the host allowed the guest to pour some of the drink into his glass.
When the guest had full confidence in the host, he only banged his glass against the host's. And in this way the ritual of clinking glasses before a toast was established.
Like many things in life, it's all about trust .
