Pouring one out - what does this ritual mean?

There is even a biblical, i.e. Old Testament, reference to this custom. Genesis 35:14: "Jacob erected a pillar of stone in the place where he had spoken to him [God]. He poured a drink offering on it and doused it with oil."

In ancient Rome, the libation was used both as an offering to the gods and as a means of honoring the dead.

Despite its modern connotations, the custom of the ritual pouring of liquid has survived the millennia and found its way into various religious and cultural contexts, although today it can exist in a fairly secular context. Why this custom has such historical and universal appeal is anyone's guess. Perhaps it is simply because sharing a drink - wine, water or whisky - with the deceased makes them feel closer to them in this way.