As being the "Wine Country" (As oldest samples of wine were discovered here
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Of course fiests , food (cuisine) and wine are part of our culture... and also known for that...
Here is nice article about Georgian Keipi! Very Interesting You might even like some traditions and COPY them! EVERYTHING GOOD SHOULD BE COPIED
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keipi is a banquet feast that is an important part of Georgian social culture. [1] In ancient Georgia, a keipi would be held in the spring for all the village to attend. The woman of the village would ensure that the food was constantly replenished as a tamada, or toastmaster, gives a toast. Tradition would have that no one could touch their wine bowl until the toast was finished.
In his book, Vintage: The Story of Wine, Hugh Johnson notes that at some keipi there maybe 20 or more toasts, with spaces between to ensure that no one gets overly intoxicated since the constant threat of invasion called for everyone in the village to be sober enough to fight. He goes on to mention that "The Georgian custom is to drain the wine bowl, then throw away the last drops. They are the number of your enemies." [2]
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all supras regardless of size, there is a tamada (or toastmaster), one person who introduces each toast. Georgians like to say that the tamada is dictator of the table, but it would be more appropriate to compare him to a leader or even a teacher. Tamada ought to be eloquent, intelligent, smart, sharp−witted and quick−thinking, with a good sense of humor because very often some of the guests might try to compete with him on the toast making. At the Georgian table a tamada bridges the gap between past, present and then the future. It seems that not only the guests, but their ancestors and descendents are invisibly present at the table. A tamada toasts them with the same love and devotion as the other members of the table. When drinking some toasts all men have to stand up and drink wine in silence. A toast can be proposed only by a tamada and the rest are to develop the idea. Everybody tries to say something more original and emotional than the previous speaker. The whole process grows into a sort of oratory contest.
Historically the tamada had more control over the table then today, which might explain why people report him to be more dictatorial than he ever is at urban supras. For example, members of the supra were supposed to ask permission before leaving the table and the party. If they got the permission they could be toasted by the tamada and other members before leaving. If the first toast is to the tamada, it is proposed by someone else, generally by the host, who proposes the nomination of the tamada. On official ceremonies the nomination of a tamada is discussed beforehand and an agreement from the person who is supposed to be nominated as a tamada is to be obtained.
A tamada arranges breaks from time to time. The thing is that there are special toasts which according to the ritual should be accompanied by a song or a verse. Almost everyone in Georgia has a good ear to music and good voice. Songs have always accompanied the Georgians in joy and sorrow, in battle and labor. Old Georgian drinking−songs are melodious, polyphonic and rather complicated. Some of them don't need any accompaniment. The choir of men creates musical background. Modern drinking−songs are usually performed to the accompaniment of the guitar or the piano. Special drinking songs and wedding songs (if it is a wedding party) as well as chants full of humor, sung by guests during the course of the party contest. It may sound strange but sometimes even events of social, economic and political significance are discussed during the table talks, and some problems are solved peacefully.
The atmosphere at the Georgian table is so friendly and candid that even the enemies are likely to make up.
If there is enough room at the party you make take part in folk dances. In these dances and at the table men ought to be gentlemen and try to be very polite and respect the ladies. Of course, no songs and dances accepted at “khelehi” (funeral banquets).If the supra is very small, in someone's home with only a few guests, the tamada will most likely be the man of the house. He won't be chose, but will simply in his role as head of the house. He won't be chose, but will simply in his role as head of the house, assume the role of tamada.
At very large occasions, such as wedding or funeral banquets, the tamada is chosen in advance by the family. They as a relative or friend who is known to be a good tamada, to lead the supra. At occasions between these two, however, the people of the table themselves choose the tamada.
The choice depends on many factors. There may be a senior person at the table to whom the role naturally falls. In some groups there will be one man who regularly is the tamada because he enjoys it and is good at it. Sometimes groups of friends who gather frequently more or less rotate the responsibility of being tamada. In many cases when it comes time to choose, one person, often the oldest member of the table, will propose a candidate far tamada by saying something like, “Kote should be our tamada, shouldn't he?”. Others express agreement and, if Kote raises no serious objections, the person who first suggested Kote, then raises his glass and process the first toast to the tamada – “Kotes gaumarjos” (to Kote). The supra participates do the same. The newly toasted tamada initiates new toast from them on.
(by the way what a coincidence, Kote is my real name)))
It might be the case, however, that Kote doesn't want to be tamada. Perhaps he feels that the senior person is suggesting his name ought to be the tamada. Maybe he was tamada last night and has a hangover, or is driving and can't drink, or would like to leave the gathering early, or just doesn't like to be tamada. He would refuse the job, perhaps pleasing some excuse. Then the people at the table propose someone else as tamada, who may be willing to take up tamada−hood and may not be, and so on, until someone at the table agrees to be tamada, and first is drunk to him.
If the tamada was chose in advance by the family, the senior member of the family would initiate the drinking by proposing the first toast to the tamada directly, without any preceding discussion. Following the proposal of this first toast, each member of the supra toast the tamada with a fixed phrase or two and drinks his glass. On this toast people drink quite quickly, almost in unison, and without any verbal elaboration on the theme of the toast. Some frequently heard phrases on this first toast “Kotes gaumarjos” (to Kote) where Kote is the name of the person who will be tamada “kargad chaatarebinos es supra” (may he lead this supra well”, or “may he cause us to have a good time”).
There is only one common circumstance where the first toast is not to the tamada and that concerns (usually small, less formal) supras where the host is tamada. In that case, the host simply assumes the role, as noted above, and proposes the first toast to a particular theme (discussed below).
A good tamada has a number of special qualities, First of all, a good tamada is one who is good with words, who speaks clearly and cleverly, who can say in an original way things which are heard over and over again at every supra. The best tamadas are extemporaneously poets.
Secondly, a good tamada must be able to organize well, as the fate of the party is in his hands. He has to decide which toasts to drink when and how often to propose new toasts, so a good rhythm is established. He has to orchestrate singing or dancing, if there is such, between stretches of toasting, so people stay attentive and entertained. This relates closely to a third quality of a good tamada, sensitivity. The tamada should have a good feel for the mood of the table and try to maintain a pleasant upbeat atmosphere in which all members are participating. The table should have a kind of unity, said one Georgian, which is the responsibility of the tamada. He should notice if certain members begin to pay less attention and draw them back, perhaps which a special toast or by making them “alaverdi”.
He should sense if people have drunk too much and allow down pace of new toast or if people are not drinking enough and speed up the pace. In general the pace of toasting is faster earlier in the evening and slows down once everyone reaches a certain level of inebriety. There is a special moment at the supra, after people have started drinking but before they are very drunk, when they feel less inhibited and are particularly susceptible to appeal to emotions. The tamada should recognize when this state has been achieved and propose more abstract toasts. If the tamada knows the people at the supra well, he will be able to excite and inspire them with the toasts he proposes (particularly at this time), thus encouraging the good feeling and leading the others to greater eloquence.
Fourthly, a good tamada has to be somewhat forceful in order to get people to pay attention to the toasting and to get everyone top drink each toast. This gets harder as the evening wears on and some people would rather talk than toast. Last, but not at all least, a good tamada must also be good drinker;
the tamada is expected to empty his glass on each toast “bottom up”. But may not get drunk, which absolutely, universally disgraceful.
The tamada has to propose a toast to every person at the Georgian table and so have the others. Every speaker tries to distinguish the most interesting, original and praiseworthy features of a person toasted. But it should not be considered to be flattery. These are lessons of love and humanism. This tradition ennobles a person. When a person is told that he is kind and honest he will find it difficult to do evil. When he is told he is generous he will try not to be greedy. When he is told he is handsome and beautiful, there is less probability of developing the inferiority complex.
The continuation of Georgian “supra” rules, art of cookery, and Georgian cuisine 100 recipes is here. 122 pages eBook contains also issues on Toasting, Order of drinking, Themes and thematic order, Personal toasts, Thematic order (Birthday supra, Toasts for funeral occasion), Minor points of supra etiquette etc.
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