How do you feel about saying "Bless You" to someone who sneezes?

Question

I think its unecessary. People started saying it because if you sneezed it meant you were getting sick & people would bless you in the hope that you would get better.
But I think the person should excuse themself for spitting & snotting all over the place. They shouldn't be blessed.
Do you get offended if someone doesn't say it to you when you sneeze?

Answer 1

its a good way to politely asking people not spray their blessing around

Answer 2

I say bless you when people sneeze - not sure why. Just a way to show I care, I guess! No - I don't get offended when people don't say it to me!

I have known some people who hate being said "Bless You" to when they sneeze. That strikes me as a bit odd, but whatever! My hubby has sneezing fits, so if I said bless you every time he sneezed I'd be saying it 50 times a day!

I think it is a personal preference.

PS. The theory I heard on the origin of "Bless you" was that people beleived the sould was trying to leave the body through the sneeze. "Bless you" meant the soul would stay put!! Not sure how true that one is!

Answer 3

The true answer is the one about the heart. It got started because every time you sneeze, your heart skips a beat. *

I always say it, simply because it's polite. In all honesty, what's the big deal, right? It shouldn't kill someone to just say a few nice words. I agree that I don't get upset if people don't say it to me, but on the other hand, it is kind of nice to hear. It's just a nice gesture.

Couldn't this world use more nice people, anyway? Being polite is a lot more freeing than being rude any day.

*Here's another little tid bit of information: Did you know that it's (supposedly) impossible to sneeze with your eyes open? Try it once! I can never do it!

Answer 4

I never say it, simply because I don't believe in blessings, and I don't get offended if someone doesn't say it to me. I actually prefer noone saying it to me because "bless you" is meaningless to me.

I don't think the sneezer should apologize though, unless the spitting and snotting hits someone or something that belongs to someone else. They can't help sneezing, so I don't really think they have anything to apologize for.

Answer 5

Actually, the words "bless you" is a shortened version of the complete phrase" God bless you".. However like many things references to God are being removed from from this culture. Notice for instance "Christmas" is frequently seen as "X-mas" which is a way to recognize the tradition, but remove any references to Christ (ergo GOD).

Anyway, "Bless you" was a way of saying that God blessed you by allowing your heart to restart because during a sneeze the heart stops. It's more habitual now, like most things. I don't get offended if it's not said, but I would prefer God Bless You, if it is going to be said at all.

Answer 6

actually, thats only one theory on why they started saying bless you. two other reason's people say it is because:

1. people used to believe that when a person sneezed it was their soul trying to escape and that saying "bless you" would prevent it from coming out.

and

2. people also used to believe that when a person sneezed their heart stopped so saying "bless you" would keep them from dying.

so there are multiple reasons people use the term "bless you" and now it has just come to be something that is curtious like "thank you", "sorry", and "excuse me". so when a person sneezes i do say "bless you" just because it is nice and it makes me feel good.

Answer 7

I stay in Camden. New Jersey. maximum folk over here do no longer provide a damn some complete stranger. in case you sneeze, they could care much less. they seem at you like you're loopy. It bothers me some days. I start to ask your self why the worldwide is crammed with a lot of thoughtless, merciless and sick mannered human beings. different days I additionally could desire to care much less. and that i continually say bless you each and every time somebody else sneezes.

Answer 8

I dont feel sometimes Bless you is an appropriate way of telling someone when they sneeze. I think it would be better if its COVER YOUR MOUTH!! (joke only)
But on the other saying Bless You is like, the germ get out to your system.

Answer 9

Its considered polite to say, "Bless you". I'm polite.

Gesundheit meant "health", but not for the one who sneezed, rather the one sneezed on. Try that one. People will still think you're trying to be polite.

Answer 10

actually people began to say it because an old myth was that by sneezing you was releasing some of your spirit...so in turn people would "bless you"...there is also some underlying connection with demons or something. Dont quote me, but I pretty much summed it up. Actually I think people that don't say it dont have much manners.

Answer 11

I think its just a polite thing to do. i am not a religious person and i always say it when someone sneezes....I do not get upset if someone does not say it back when i sneeze but it is nice to see there are people with manners still left out there....