A Thanksgiving toast is generally given when the entire group of family and friends are present. Before or during the Thanksgiving dinner, everyone raises a glass to the host and hostess in gratitude and thanks. Unless the one giving the Thanksgiving toast is comfortable speaking in public, being asked at the last minute could make the toaster feel even more uneasy. Here are some suggestions to help you feel more confident in case you're asked to give the Thanksgiving toast this year.

• Make sure everyone is called to the table and are either seated or standing, whichever the host prefers.
• A Thanksgiving toast can be given before the meal, during the meal, or a few times in between as the host and guests feel the need to be thankful.
• Thanksgiving is likely a time when more toasts are given as guests drink and feel comfortable enough to give a word of thanks or blessings.
• Make sure to get everyone's attention. Clinking the glasses is not necessary.
• Standing up is a good way to get attention. If the room is particularly noisy, clearing the throat will usually do the trick.
• If the host has a little dinner bell, that could be a festive touch as well.

Turn off any music playing in the background. Speak in an authoritative tone, but not loud and obnoxious.

• Speak clearly, don't mumble. Try to avoid using notes and making it sound rehearsed.
• If there is only one designated guest giving the toast, it can be controlled. If many are allowed to get up and give a Thanksgiving toast, this could result in chaos, especially after the guests have had a few too many toasts.
• Don't single out one guest, it will make him or her uncomfortable.
• A few minutes is all that's needed, just enough to acknowledge the hosts and their company.

• Try to think of something original to say to the guests. If you have prior warning, you can contemplate a meaningful toast.
• Look around the room as you're toasting, lift the glass to the host first, and then to everyone else.
• Resist lame toasts and graces like, "rubba dub dub, thanks for the grub", and toasting to the winning football team, or the son's newest girlfriend.

• “May you live all of the days of your life.” - Jonathan Swift
• "May you live all the years of your life." - Jonathan Swift
• "Friendship is the wine of life; Let's drink of it, and to it." - unknownhttp://locus1.com/fdr/quotes/t.htm

• "Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart." - Seneca
• "The very fact that a man is thankful implies someone to be thankful to." - John Baillie
• "Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence." - Erma Bombeck
• "My mother is such a lousy cook that Thanksgiving at her house is a time of sorrow." - Rita Rudner
• "Coexistence: what the farmer does with the turkey - until Thanksgiving." - Mike Connollyhttp://www.godweb.org/thanksgivingquotes.htm

For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends. - Ralph Waldo Emerson http://locus1.com/fdr/quotes/t.htm