Tibetan Wine Culture

Tibetan wine culture is an important part of the rich Tibetan culture because most areas of Tibet are clod and Tibetan people would drink some wine to warm their body and wine is also used on celebration. Tibetan barley wine is fermented by highland barley directly, with low degree. It is appropriate to all people, the male, the female, and the old and young. It is a necessity when celebrating festivals.

The etiquette and custom of drinking wine is plentiful in Tibet. Every time the wine is fermented, Tibetan people will propose a toast to the god first. Then following the principle of respecting for seniority, they will propose a toast to the elder. Finally, the family members could drink their fill.

In the occasions of festival, wedding celebration or other gathering situations, people often propose a toast to the elder and then propose to other people clockwise. People who propose a toast need to take over the wine bowel with both hands firstly, then hold up the bowel by the left hand and dip the wine with your right hand ring finger, and then flick your finger. Repeated this for three times for piously worship to heaven, earth, god and Buddha-dharma-sangha. Sometimes people will speak panegyric lightly and then drink the wine.

Toasting song is an essential when drinking wine. The melody of Tibetan toasting song is resonant with rising and falling, exquisite and pleasant to listen to. The content of the songs are often about benedictions and Compliments. In the common compotation, the host and hostess will sing toasting songs while proposing a toast. In some gaudy, there are specialized young girls to propose the toast. They are beautifully dressed, singing charming songs and turning turns to advise drink until all the guests are drunk.