2006-08-23 22:36:50 · 22 answers · asked by SYAMMOHAN C 1 in Health ➔ Other - Health
From the site referenced below: There are many theories regarding the origin of this custom. One traditional explanation for the custom is that it began literally as a blessing. Pope Gregory I the Great (AD 540-604) ascended to the Papacy just in time for the start of the bubonic plague in AD 590 (his successor succumbed to it). To combat the plague, Gregory ordered litanies, processions and unceasing prayer for God's blessing. When someone sneezed (seen as the initial onset of the plague), they were immediately blessed ("God bless you!") in the hope that they would not actually develop the disease. Nevertheless the phrase bless you or god bless you in Greek literature predates the ascension of Gregory. "Bless you, my dear!" he said, and "bless you, bless you!" at the second and third sneeze. From Apuleius, The Golden ***, AD 150. Aloha
2006-08-27 10:29:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because in ancient times people believed that the soul of a person would escape from the body when a person sneezed and the only way to stop that was by saying 'God bless you.'
2006-08-24 05:50:35 · answer #2 · answered by rahbernazir 2 · 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.
2006-08-24 05:39:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've always been undeer the impression that when a persons sneezes the heart stops beating for just a second, hence someoine telling you God Bless You. Not sure how true it is, but it makes sense.
2006-08-24 05:52:19 · answer #4 · answered by GRUMPY 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because while you sneeze u are unable to say it .So people say it for you .Maybe that you wont get another chance if you die with that sneeze .They dont want us to go without God's blessings .
2006-08-24 11:43:13 · answer #5 · answered by rambo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hundreds & hundreds of years ago, when a man or women sneezed, it was believed that their heart stopped beating. People in the area would respond, "God bless you" in case their heart did not return to the normal beating process and would bless them in their after life. If they did not die, (which is the case) it is believed tha saying God Bless you kept them alive by returning the heart to its beating process
2006-08-24 05:42:54 · answer #6 · answered by moereiss 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because when you sneeze your soul trys to escape, saying "god bless you" crams it back in!
2006-08-24 05:39:56 · answer #7 · answered by claire 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God bless you is a way of telling you that the person hopes you have better health.
2006-08-24 05:42:54 · answer #8 · answered by kingofnarniaforever 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in ancient times they use to think that when u sneezed ur soul could escape, so ppl would always say god bless u so u could keep ur soul!!
2006-08-24 05:40:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hav heard of heart stopping & the soul escaping your body when u sneeze, so my answer is already covered in above.
2006-08-24 05:57:32 · answer #10 · answered by Heista 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋