@mtb002 I suspect that your question is rhetorical. Yet it is an interesting question (to me), in part owing to a personal fondness for sparklers. So let me treat it with a serious answer.
I think we all know and understand that champagne, and maybe even sparkling wines, in general, were historically more expensive. As such they have been considered to be an extravagant luxury reserved for either royalty or for celebratory events, weddings, graduations, and the like.
This symbolism is deeply rooted for we’ve all seen some dignitary, usually a lady, christen a new ship at its launching by smashing a bottle of champagne against the bow. Here, then, is a quick Google on that practice:
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People break champagne bottles on ships as part of a launching ceremony to bring good luck to the ship and its crew:
Tradition: The tradition dates back to ancient seafaring societies, who believed breaking a bottle on a ship’s launch would bring good fortune on future voyages.
Public celebration: The ceremony is a public celebration that marks the transfer of a boat from land to water for the first time.
Symbol of celebration: Champagne is a celebratory drink, and the louder the bottle explodes, the better.
Here are some other details about the tradition:
The first ship known to be christened with champagne was part of Queen Victoria’s naval fleet in 1891.
The US Navy’s first steel battleship, the USS Maine, was launched with champagne in 1890.
Before champagne, other drinks were used to christen ships, including: - Whiskey, used to launch the USS Princeton and the USS Raritan in 1843 and 1845
Madeira wine, used to launch the frigate USS Constitution in 1797
Brandy, used to christen the New Ironsides in Philadelphia in 1862
Which brings to mind an interesting thought. Does anyone know whether or not a ship has been launched by smashing a bottle of beer on its bow? Doesn’t have the same sort of celebratory feel, me thinks.
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This notion of celebration associated with champagne tends to carry over in the English language as well. Here is a list of synonyms for the word “effervescent:”
vivacious, lively, animated, full of life, spirited, high-spirited, bubbling, bubbly, ebullient, buoyant, sparkling, scintillating, lighthearted, carefree, happy-go-lucky, jaunty, merry, happy, jolly, joyful, full of fun, full of the joys of spring, cheery, cheerful, perky, sunny, airy, breezy, bright, enthusiastic, irrepressible, vibrant, vivid, vital, zestful, energetic, dynamic, vigorous, full of vim and vigor, lusty, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, bright and breezy, peppy, zingy, zippy, bouncy, upbeat, chirpy, full of beans, chipper, pert, gay
An antonym of effervescent describes how one might feel the morning after, when and if one got the bill for the champagne party: depressed.
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So maybe these are a few answers. Nicht wahr?
Personally, I like the bubbles. Always have. So for moi, the occasion issue is reversed.
@Jackinga and I thought you were going to tell us that you always keep a bottle of champagne in the fridge for special occasions… even if the special occasion is having a bottle of champagne in the fridge!
@ttboy23 I’d not be “scared” but do have a back-up plan in place, The one in the pic has been demoted to cook-with status, but another I had perhaps a year ago was still consumable, but certainly well past peak. Last purchase was a bit over 13 years ago. They got buried and dusty.
Why do bubbles have to be a special occasion?
@mtb002 I suspect that your question is rhetorical. Yet it is an interesting question (to me), in part owing to a personal fondness for sparklers. So let me treat it with a serious answer.
I think we all know and understand that champagne, and maybe even sparkling wines, in general, were historically more expensive. As such they have been considered to be an extravagant luxury reserved for either royalty or for celebratory events, weddings, graduations, and the like.
This symbolism is deeply rooted for we’ve all seen some dignitary, usually a lady, christen a new ship at its launching by smashing a bottle of champagne against the bow. Here, then, is a quick Google on that practice:
**
People break champagne bottles on ships as part of a launching ceremony to bring good luck to the ship and its crew:
Tradition: The tradition dates back to ancient seafaring societies, who believed breaking a bottle on a ship’s launch would bring good fortune on future voyages.
Public celebration: The ceremony is a public celebration that marks the transfer of a boat from land to water for the first time.
Symbol of celebration: Champagne is a celebratory drink, and the louder the bottle explodes, the better.
Here are some other details about the tradition:
Before champagne, other drinks were used to christen ships, including: - Whiskey, used to launch the USS Princeton and the USS Raritan in 1843 and 1845
Which brings to mind an interesting thought. Does anyone know whether or not a ship has been launched by smashing a bottle of beer on its bow? Doesn’t have the same sort of celebratory feel, me thinks.
**
This notion of celebration associated with champagne tends to carry over in the English language as well. Here is a list of synonyms for the word “effervescent:”
vivacious, lively, animated, full of life, spirited, high-spirited, bubbling, bubbly, ebullient, buoyant, sparkling, scintillating, lighthearted, carefree, happy-go-lucky, jaunty, merry, happy, jolly, joyful, full of fun, full of the joys of spring, cheery, cheerful, perky, sunny, airy, breezy, bright, enthusiastic, irrepressible, vibrant, vivid, vital, zestful, energetic, dynamic, vigorous, full of vim and vigor, lusty, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, bright and breezy, peppy, zingy, zippy, bouncy, upbeat, chirpy, full of beans, chipper, pert, gay
An antonym of effervescent describes how one might feel the morning after, when and if one got the bill for the champagne party: depressed.
**
So maybe these are a few answers. Nicht wahr?
Personally, I like the bubbles. Always have. So for moi, the occasion issue is reversed.
@Jackinga and I thought you were going to tell us that you always keep a bottle of champagne in the fridge for special occasions… even if the special occasion is having a bottle of champagne in the fridge!
@Jackinga @ttboy23
Isn’t that the way it’s done?!
Be prepared, always a properly chilled bottle on hand.
@ttboy23 I keep a bottle of bubbly in the fridge for any day ending in a “y.”
@rjquillin nice selection there
I still have some of that Momo Sake from way back! With no previous experience I’m kinda scared to drink it now
@ttboy23 I’d not be “scared” but do have a back-up plan in place, The one in the pic has been demoted to cook-with status, but another I had perhaps a year ago was still consumable, but certainly well past peak. Last purchase was a bit over 13 years ago. They got buried and dusty.