Difference between revisions of "Sadghegrdzelo (Georgia)"

The confusion that this young Georgian woman describes concerning the identity of her acquaintances is provoked by a fundamental personal transformation that takes place in the process of proposing a toast (''sadghegrzelo'') at a festive meal (''supra'') in Georgia. A toast should come ‘from the heart,’ which is why, sometimes, Georgians place their left hand on their heart while holding a glass of wine, vodka or cognac in their right hand. Underlying this display of emotional veracity is a rigid behavioural and linguistic code. A toast may be proposed only to shared values—dissent must be avoided at all cost—and should be phrased in a specific, grammatically complex manner. This mixture of authenticity and strictly formalised behaviour may cause confusion (as expressed in the quotation above). The borders between ‘me’ and ‘not me’ (or ‘real me’ and ‘imagined me,’ as in the quotation) become so blurred that they are indistinguishable (Schechner 1983)<ref> Schechner, R. 1983. “Between Theater and Anthropology”. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press</ref>. It is this ambivalence that lies at the heart of toasting.