When you go to a gathering of Americans, everyone raises their glass and says "Cheers!" before clinking and immediately drinking.

Unlike in Korea, where someone stands up to say something and everyone shouts "Cheers!" together, you rarely see that in the U.S.

When I first attended such an event, I was a bit taken aback.

Since I hadn't prepared a toast, I wondered if I was the only one missing the timing as everyone else seemed to drink so naturally.

With no one leading the toast and no call-and-response, it was unclear when to clink glasses.

After experiencing it a few more times, I realized that the structure of drinking in the U.S. is fundamentally different from that in Korea.

In Korea, the toast is typically initiated by the highest-ranking person or the guest of honor, and the others repeat the phrase.

Sometimes, someone is called upon to make an impromptu toast, which can be nerve-wracking if you can't think of the right words in that moment.

This ritual serves to confirm the hierarchy and the sense of being part of a team.

In contrast, American drinking gatherings are much more about individuals freely conversing rather than a formal event.

There's generally no hierarchical structure where one person leads and the others follow.

As a result, without a set phrase, people simply raise their glasses and say "Cheers" whenever they want.

Interestingly, the origin of the word "Cheers" is quite fascinating.

This word originally came from an old French word meaning face or expression, and over time it evolved to refer to mood or attitude.

The act of clinking glasses has even deeper roots.

In ancient Greece, there was a custom of raising glasses in rituals to honor the gods, which is believed to be the beginning of today's toast culture.

In medieval Europe, due to frequent poisonings, people would clink their glasses hard enough to mix their drinks slightly as a way to ensure safety.

However, historians believe this theory about preventing poisoning is more of a symbolic story that solidified later rather than a fact supported by evidence.

In Europe, there's still a superstition that if you don't make eye contact while toasting, you'll have bad luck for seven years.

In the U.S., though, there's a much more relaxed attitude towards these formalities.

Whether you make eye contact or not, whether you clink glasses hard or lightly, it's not seen as a rule to follow.

Interestingly, America used to have a much more formal toast culture than it does now.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, official dinners in the U.S. often included early leaders of the nation taking turns to toast.

Over time, this has become increasingly personalized and casual.

You can really feel this difference when attending a sports game.

Even while cheering for a favorite team, when a goal is scored or a home run is hit, people naturally clink glasses with those next to them without anyone giving a signal or coordinating a phrase.

It's more about responding to the atmosphere than following a set procedure.

Ultimately, the reason American toasts are so casual today seems to be that the culture has shifted to viewing drinking occasions as personal moments rather than organizational rituals.

I often find this relaxed atmosphere much more comfortable.

There's no need to prepare a clever toast in advance, and you don't have to worry about who will speak first.

Still, sometimes I find myself missing the energy of that moment when everyone would shout "Cheers!" together.

When everyone shouts in unison, it creates a sense of vibrancy that wasn't there before.

Rather than which is better, I think it reflects how the people in that moment want to relate to each other through the way they clink glasses.