Practically each adult not once in the life heard expression "drink brotherhood". And many also drank in this way. But the history of emergence of this ritual is known to not everyone.
From the dictionary
In translation from German the word "Bruderschaft" designates "brotherhood". Thus, to drink brotherhood — means to drink to fix friendship, to become good friends, companions and even "brothers".
The ritual of drink on брудершафт represents a ceremony during which two few acquaintances among themselves of the participant of a feast raise glasses with alcoholic beverages, crossing hands with glasses, and at the same time in a volley devastate them, and then kiss. From this point they begin to address to each other more formally, passing on "you". It is very important to look in the face to the person with whom you drink brotherhood.
History of custom
According to opinion of historians, this interesting ritual arose at the time of the gloomy Middle Ages. The territory in which the custom appeared to drink brotherhood alcoholic drinks — Europe. Then, the soldiers who gathered at a table, the participation in this tradition showed each other the sincere good intentions, desire to give support and the help in fight and to go together to a victory. At the same time the moments of conducting fight in detail made a reservation, plans for joint participation in further campaigns were made and also former feats were remembered. Further the ritual which was performed by two military leaders followed. Each gesture which is carried out in a ritual has the hidden, but very important sense. So, the weaved hands symbolize support, unity of the purposes and desires. The wine drunk to the bottom means that intentions of both are carefully considered and completely solved. At the same time the kiss fixed the oath sworn each other. If to wine it was added on a drop of blood of each of interlocutors, then the oath was considered as blood, and its violation was punished by cruel revenge. If to glance in psychology, then it is possible to see that the ritual takes the roots exactly from there. Binding hands, and, especially, kissing the stranger, the interlocutor lets in him the "intimate" space. And time he is ready to make it, so is already subconsciously ready for closer communication.
Legend
There is also more romantic version of emergence of the considered tradition. According to it, lovers drank brotherhood. At the same time if wine of one of them was poisoned, then during a kiss, poison was transferred also to another. And, therefore, the offer to drink brotherhood is the present proof that drink doesn't contain poison, and intentions of the interlocutor are clean and is sincere.