The best Christmas toasts and cheers travel well across Europe — from Germany's Prost! and France's Santé! to the Nordic Skål! and Finnish Kippis!.
Here are 35 original Christmas toasts and cheers in 15 European languages, each with its English meaning — ready for Christmas dinner or mulled wine at the market.
Last updated: September 18, 2026

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German-Speaking Europe
Germany, Austria, and Switzerland toast with gusto — over beer or Glühwein — and the Dutch say Proost!.
- Prost! Frohe Weihnachten! — Cheers! Merry Christmas!
- Zum Wohl! Fröhliches Fest! — To your health! Joyful celebration!
- Prosit Neujahr! — Cheers to the New Year!
- Auf die Gesundheit! — To health!
- Ein Hoch auf Weihnachten! — Three cheers for Christmas!
- Proost! Vrolijk kerstfeest! — Cheers! Merry Christmas!
- Frohe Feiertage, Prost! — Happy holidays, cheers!
French-Speaking Europe
France, Belgium, and French-speaking Switzerland raise their glasses to health.
- Santé! Joyeux Noël! — Cheers! Merry Christmas!
- À votre santé! — To your health!
- Tchin-tchin! Joyeux Noël! — Clink-clink! Merry Christmas!
- À un Noël magique! — To a magical Christmas!
- Bonheur et santé! — Happiness and health!
- Joyeux Noël, santé! — Merry Christmas, cheers!
- À nos amis! — To our friends!
Southern Europe
Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Greece keep their toasts short, warm, and musical.
- ¡Salud! ¡Feliz Navidad! — Cheers! Merry Christmas!
- Salute! Buon Natale! — Cheers! Merry Christmas!
- Cin cin! Buon Natale! — Clink clink! Merry Christmas!
- Saúde! Feliz Natal! — Cheers! Merry Christmas!
- Stin iyia mas! — To our health!
- ¡Por la familia! — To family!
- Evviva il Natale! — Long live Christmas!

Nordic Europe
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland take toasting seriously — eye contact included.
- Skål! God jul! — Cheers! Merry Christmas!
- Kippis! Hyvää joulua! — Cheers! Merry Christmas!
- Skål for julen! — Cheers to Christmas!
- Bunden i vejret! — Bottoms up!
- Skål, mine venner! — Cheers, my friends!
- Kippis ja onnea! — Cheers and good luck!
- En skål for julen! — A toast to Christmas!
Eastern Europe
Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, and Bulgaria toast to health and luck.
- Na zdrowie! Wesołych Świąt! — Cheers! Merry Christmas!
- Na zdraví! Veselé Vánoce! — Cheers! Merry Christmas!
- Egészségedre! Boldog karácsonyt! — Cheers! Merry Christmas!
- Noroc! Crăciun fericit! — Good luck! Merry Christmas!
- Na zdravi! Sretan Božić! — Cheers! Merry Christmas!
- Vesela Koleda! — Merry Christmas!
- Noroc și sănătate! — Luck and health!
FAQs: Christmas Toasts & Cheers
- Most common Christmas toast in Europe? Prost! and Santé! are the most heard; Skål! unites the Nordics.
- What does "Skål" mean? Old Norse for "bowl" — Vikings shared one vessel; today it means "cheers" in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
- How do Italians toast at Christmas? Salute! or Cin cin!, then Buon Natale! — Merry Christmas.
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