2006-08-08 17:51:29 · 31 answers · asked by Baby Jack born 4/5/09 4 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
B/c in "old days" it was thought that you were releasing your soul through a sneeze so by saying bless you, they were keeping that from happening. That's also why people cover their mouths when they sneeze. Well most people do, there is always that one that insists on blowing snot and spit everywhere in the middle of a buffet.
2006-08-08 17:56:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Okay, I heard the answer to this many years ago, and I can't say for sure its' true, but here's what I heard:
In the dark ages (when was that, the 15th century? 14th?), the bubonic plague was horrible. A third of civilization or so was killed by the plague in Europe. Millions. Just try to imagine 100 million people killed in the USA by such a thing.
Anyway, supposedly, the first symptom of the plague was sneezing.
If someone sneezed, the first assumption, or at least the fear, was that the sneezer may have caught the plague. So, as serious as this would be, any person hearing the sneezer sneeze would say "God bless you" in the hopes that the Creator might spare this person from the certain death that acquiring the plague meant.
*edit* amberle, was the plague in the 6th century?? LOL, OK, so I was only off by 900 years. 900 years here, 900 years there, whatever...... hahahaha
2006-08-09 01:05:54 · answer #2 · answered by BobBobBob 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The custom of saying "God bless you" after a sneeze was begun literally as a blessing. Pope Gregory the Great (540-604 AD) ascended to the Papacy just in time for the start of the plague (his successor succumbed to it). Gregory (who also invented the ever-popular Gregorian chant) called for litanies, processions and unceasing prayer for God's help and intercession. Columns marched through the streets chanting, "Kyrie Eleison" (Greek for "Lord have mercy"). When someone sneezed, they were immediately blessed ("God bless you!") in the hope that they would not subsequently develop the plague. All that prayer apparently worked, judging by how quickly the plague of 590 AD diminished.
2006-08-09 00:59:08 · answer #3 · answered by amberle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two reasons.
The first is the more commonly thought of reason. People thought you were getting sick, and remember it wasn't long ago the simple flu killed millions, so they would bless you.
The second reason is because for several hundred years there was a widespread belief that when you sneezed your soul could escape, and you would be possessed by a demon, so they blessed you to prevent this.
2006-08-09 00:56:49 · answer #4 · answered by legallyblond2day 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People used to think that when you sneezed, you were either possessed by demons or that your soul was about to leave your body, after you sneezed, demons could invade your body. Saying bless you or God bless you kept the demons out and your soul in.
2006-08-09 20:09:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are 3 legends: 1. people used to think that your soul would escape out your nose while u snnezed, so sayin ' God bless you' would ward of the devil while ur body was vulnerable
2. a long time ago ppl thought that ur heart would stop when u sneezed, so saying 'God bless you' would send ur heart tickin again.
3. in the Middle Ages ppl thought that a sneeze was a sign of impending death, meaning u would die no matter what. saying ' God bless u' was a way of giving up your soul for God to take care of so that u wouldnt die.
there are prolly more but that all i know.
2006-08-09 01:01:22 · answer #6 · answered by Sarbear 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most common origin story for 'bless you' is that it was common for sneezing to be one of the last stages of the Black Plague and therefore people started 'blessing' the sneezer
just in case death was at his door.
2006-08-09 01:04:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Supposedly there was a superstition that your soul can can come loose from your body when you sneeze and blessing someone could prevent it from being stolen.
There's also a superstition about holding your breath when passing a graveyard so you don't wind up hosting any stray ghosts.
2006-08-09 01:01:10 · answer #8 · answered by February Rain 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a left over superstition from a time when England, was a very superstitious place as a result that felt that when one sneezed their soul was thought to have flown from their nose and so they usually said bless you, oh and crossed themselves also.
2006-08-09 01:01:30 · answer #9 · answered by Mintjulip 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It started in the medieval times. Back in the beginning of the Catholic faith. They believed that when you sneeze it was The Holy Spirt leaving your body if you say bless you they believe the spirt will come back
2006-08-09 00:57:59 · answer #10 · answered by College Student 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋