View source for Keipi

{{Georgian cuisine}}
[[File:Pirosmani. Feast of Three Noblemen.jpg|thumb|left|"The ''keipi'' of three noblemen", by the Georgian [[naïve art]]ist [[Niko Pirosmani|Pirosmani]].]]
A '''keipi''' ({{lang-ka|ქეიფი}}) or festivity ''[[Supra (feast)|supra]]'' is a traditional banquet feast in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]].<ref>[http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Costa-Rica-to-Georgia/Georgians.html Georgians] at World Cultures</ref><ref name=StephenJones>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hcMZCAAAQBAJ&pg=PR19|title=Georgia: A Political History Since Independence|first=Stephen|authorlink=Stephen F. Jones|page=19|last=Jones|date=2013|publisher=I.B. Tauris|via=Google Books|access-date=12 January 2019}}</ref>

== History ==
In ancient Georgia, a ''keipi'' would be held in the spring for all the village to attend. The women of the village would ensure that the food was constantly replenished as a ''[[tamada]]'', or toastmaster, gives a [[Toast (honor)|toast]]. Tradition dictates that no participant could touch their wine bowl until the toast was finished.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

== Rules and habits ==
In his book, ''Vintage: The Story of Wine'', [[Hugh Johnson (wine writer)|Hugh Johnson]] notes that at some ''keipi'' there may be 20 or more toasts, with spaces between to ensure that no one gets overly intoxicated since the constant threat of invasion called for everyone in the village to be sober enough to fight. He goes on to mention that "The Georgian custom is to drain the wine bowl, then throw away the last drops. They are the number of your enemies."<ref>Hugh Johnson, ''Vintage: The Story of Wine'' pg 15. Simon and Schuster 1989</ref>

A tamada arranges breaks from time to time. The thing is that there are special toasts which according to the ritual should be accompanied by a song or a verse. Songs have always accompanied the Georgians in joy and sorrow, in battle and labour. Old Georgian drinking−songs are melodious, polyphonic and rather complicated.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} Some of them don't need any accompaniment. The choir of men creates musical background. Modern drinking−songs are usually performed to the accompaniment of the guitar or the piano. Special drinking songs and wedding songs (if it is a wedding party) as well as chants full of humour, sung by guests during the course of the party contest.

If there is enough room at the party you may take part in folk dances. In these dances and at the table men ought to be gentlemen and try to be very polite and respect the ladies. Of course, no songs and dances accepted at “khelehi” (funeral banquets).

==Footnotes==
<references/>

== Further reading ==
*Darra Goldstein (1999), ''The Georgian Feast: The Vibrant Culture and Savory Food of the Republic of Georgia''. [[University of California Press]], {{ISBN|0-520-21929-5}}.

== See also ==
*traditional Georgian feast - [[Supra (feast)|Supra]]
*Georgian burial banquet - [[Kelekhi]]

== External links ==
*[http://www.hansrossel.com/travel-information/georgia-tbilisi/wine-tradition-georgian-culture.htm GEORGIA TRAVEL], Wine drinking, tradition in Georgia
*[http://webzone.imer.mah.se/projects/georgianV04/DEMO/GeoLINK/Intro2.html#Georgiantraditions  Georgia: society, language and culture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217184035/http://webzone.imer.mah.se/projects/georgianV04/DEMO/GeoLINK/Intro2.html#Georgiantraditions |date=2009-02-17 }} Georgian traditions;

[[Category:Culture of Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Georgian words and phrases]]