same way the English expression "bless you" is used. In Germany, toasting, not necessarily by words but usually just by touching each other's drinking vessels, is usually a very closely observed part of culture. In private company, no one should drink a sip of alcohol before having toasted all the other people at the table. In doing this, it is very important to look directly into the other drinker's eyes. Not practising this is considered rude and often, humorously, believed to attract all kinds of bad luck (e.g. "seven years of bad luck" and the like). Traditional toasts In the British Royal Navy, the officers' noon mess typically began with the loyal toast, followed by a toast distinctive for the day of the week: Monday: Our ships at sea. Tuesday: Our sailors (formerly Our men but changed to include women). Wednesday: Ourselves. ("As no-one else is likely to concern themselves with our welfare" is often the retort and not part of the toast) Thursday: A bloody war or a sickly season (meaning the desire and likelihood of being promoted when many people die: during war or sickness). Friday: A willing foe and sea room. Saturday: Our families (formerly "Our wives and sweethearts", with the retort of "may they never meet"). Sunday: Absent friends. The sequence was also prescribed in at least one publication for the United States Navy. A toast might be spontaneous and free-form, a carefully planned original speech, or a recitation of traditional sentiments such as this Irish example: An informal variation of the last two lines: Toasts worldwide In various cultures worldwide, toasting is common and to not do so may be a breach of etiquette. The general theme of a toast is "good luck" or "good health". At formal meals in certain countries of the Commonwealth of Nations, the first toast to be proposed is traditionally the Loyal Toast ("The King"). This may be adapted in other countries to give a loyal toast to the appropriate Head of State. Selected examples of toasts worldwide: Albanian: "Gëzuar" (enjoy) Afrikaans: "Gesondheid", "Tjorts", or "Tjeers" (to good health, cheers, or bottoms up!) Amharic language (Ethiopia): "Le'tenachin!" (to our health) Arabic: "بصحتك" (be ṣaḥtak, for your health) Armenian: "Կենաց" or "Կենացդ" (kenats/genats or kenatst/genatst, "to life" or "to your life") Australian English: Cheers mate! (to your happiness my friend) Basque: "Topa!" (toast) Belarusian: "Будзьма!" (budzma, may we live!) Bosnian: "Nazdravlje"