2006-09-19 01:40:02 · 17 answers · asked by mlaric 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
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.
The connection of sneezing to the plague is not the first association of sneezing with death. According to Man, Myth, and Magic: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Mythology, Religion and the Unknown, many cultures, even some in Europe, believe that sneezing expels the soul--the "breath of life"--from the body. That doesn't seem too far-fetched when you realize that sneezing can send tiny particles speeding out of your nose at up to 100 miles per hour!
We know today, of course, that when you sneeze, your heart doesn't stop, nor will your eyes pop out if you can keep them open , nor does your soul get expelled. What does get expelled are hundreds upon thousands of microscopic germs. The current advice when you sneeze is to cover your mouth with your arm rather than your hand. That way, all those germs won't be on your hands when you touch the countless things you're going to touch in the course of the day
There are many superstitions regarding sneezing, But here are some of my favorites.
Sneeze on Monday for health,
Sneeze on Tuesday for wealth,
Sneeze on Wednesday for a letter,
Sneeze on Thursday for something better,
Sneeze on Friday for sorrow,
Sneeze on Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow,
Sneeze on Sunday, safety seek.
One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a letter
Four for a boy.
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret, never to be told.
And lastly, a sneeze before breakfast is a sign that you will hear exciting news before the end of the day.
2006-09-19 01:43:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It does come from an ancient belief but it's not about your soul escaping, it's more about evil spirits getting into your soul through a weakness in your defense system. When you sneeze, you open a portal and if someone says, "bless you" it will negate the evil spirits that sneaked in.
2006-09-19 01:49:25 · answer #2 · answered by daca_moracca 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ancient man believed that his breath was also his soul or "essence of life." When God made man, he "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." A rapid departure of that breath--a sneeze--is the same as expelling life from one's body. Also, it leaves a vacuum in the head which evil spirits can enter. Roman citizens feared sneezing when a plague hit their city during the reign of Pope Gregory the Great. Since they regarded the sneeze as a sure sign of approaching sickness, Pope Gregory in situated the use of the phrase "God bless you" to shield sneezers from any ill effects.
2006-09-19 01:43:48 · answer #3 · answered by toietmoi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It stems from the ancient belief that when you sneezed it was your soul trying to escape through your mouth.
So people said "God Bless You" so that your soul wouldn't escape.
It's amazing how we have moved on from ideas like this, yet some equally rediculous beliefs are still held as absolute by some people.
2006-09-19 01:41:19 · answer #4 · answered by shoby_shoby2003 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In medievil times, people thought that a sneeze was a sign of bad spirits, so saying bless you when you sneezed was keeping those bad spirits from harming you.
2006-09-19 01:47:46 · answer #5 · answered by Olive Green Eyes 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Back in the Middle Ages people thought if you sneezed that your heart my stop and that you would die so they said God Bless You.
2006-09-19 01:41:59 · answer #6 · answered by . 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Long ago it was believed that when you sneeze you expel evil from the body so they thought it was a wonderful thing hence the term bless you
2006-09-19 01:48:42 · answer #7 · answered by svt 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard that when a person sneezes their heart stops briefly and by saying "bless you" it kicks back in. Or something like that
2006-09-19 01:42:03 · answer #8 · answered by Justa_Honay_Guy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have heard many theory's on this one.
One being that your soul is trying to escape from your body and they are asking God to bless you.
Two being that when you sneeze you stop breathing and they are asking God to bless you.
2006-09-19 01:42:58 · answer #9 · answered by jhaejhae 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ancient belief states that when one sneezed one was going to die. this was probable back then because you sneeze when you're sick and ancient society didn't have medicine. people died from illnesses everyday. by telling them bless you they were praying for them and asking for "God" to help them. It is now a tradition that has been carried on for yours and is considered polite.
2006-09-19 01:45:54 · answer #10 · answered by Mickie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋