2006-10-02 08:20:42 · 11 answers · asked by dimplez23 3 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Because it used to be believed that your heart stopped when you sneezed and if some one didn't bless you it might not start again.
I've also heard that people used to think evil spirits would enter you when you sneezed because you couldn't stop them. People would bless you to keep them out.
Gezundheit (sp) is a german word for bless you.
2006-10-02 08:25:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
URBAN LEGENDS:
Common among these explanations are:
At one time people believed a man's soul could be inadvertently thrust from his body by an explosive sneeze, thus "Bless you!" was a protective oath uttered to safeguard the temporarily expelled and vulnerable soul from being snatched up by Satan (who was always lurking nearby). The purpose of the oath was to cast a temporary shield over the flung-out soul which would protect it just long enough to regain the protection of the corporeal body.
Conversely, the sneeze itself was the expulsion of a demon or evil spirit which had taken up residence in a person. Therefore, although the "Bless you!" was again a protective charm meant to protect the sneezer from evil, in this version it was meant to ward off the re-entry of an evil spirit which a tormented soul had just rid itself of.
The heart was believed to momentarily stop during a sneeze (it doesn't), thus the "Bless you!" was uttered either as a supplication for life to return or as a congratulation upon its successful restart.
Others claim an association of the practice with particular dire diseases (most often the bubonic plague, or "Black Death," as it is sometimes known). They say an infected person's sneeze was sure sign he'd soon be pushing up daisies, thus the "Bless you!" was intended as a benediction to the nearly-departed, a way of commending his soul to the care of God now that he was beyond the help of anything in the mortal world.
Yet other folks echo the theme of other superstitions about sneezes, that these expulsions are either in themselves lucky or foretell good fortune coming the sneezer's way. For them, the "Bless you!" is a recognition of incoming good luck, possibly even an attempt on the blesser's part to attract a bit of it to himself.
Finally, some see the sneeze as a blessing bestowed by the sneezer upon the sneezed-upon. Answering a sneeze with "Bless you!" is seen as nothing more remarkable than replying "Good morning!" to the person who had just greeted you with the same phrase.
So many explanations -- each deeply believed -- for such a simple and often unquestioned practice. And we'll never know which one is right.
2006-10-02 08:30:38 · answer #2 · answered by lorna56dave 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A long time ago when people believed that demon posession caused everything from bad meat to death saying bless you was supposed to be a way to keep the spirits from reentering your body. People of this time believed tht the sneeze was the bodies natural defense against demonic possession and that you were sneezing out your demons...I'm not making this up!!! In a sense the people of this time were partly right because inside your nostils are cilia and mucus which prevents excess bacteria from entering your lungs.
2006-10-02 08:33:59 · answer #3 · answered by ajax138 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you get a chance take a look at the movie Dogma and note the scene in the board room when Matt Damon sneezes. Actually it's a traditional, automatic response ingrained in some people.
2006-10-02 08:24:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Back in the day when a common cold could kill someone. We started to say God Bless You, it was a way to say a small prayer for people who may get sick and ultimatley die. It's just kinda stuck around. Gunzutheit is just German for God bless you.
2006-10-02 08:25:45 · answer #5 · answered by wild_orchid_1988 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People used to believe that your heart stopped when you sneezed.
2006-10-02 08:25:41 · answer #6 · answered by Hamish 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmmm... I heard this on the Simpsons... If you sneeze your soul is trying to escape and when someone says bless you your soul crammes back up your nose.
2006-10-02 08:30:57 · answer #7 · answered by mynameischeese2001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we say bless you because when people used to sneeze in the olden days, people thought he or she was catching the plague and was going to die...
2006-10-02 08:29:31 · answer #8 · answered by - 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say it because my husband gets mad at me if I don't. Other than that, I never did in my life. I think it's a way of being polite.
2006-10-02 08:23:20 · answer #9 · answered by Carrie! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's some interesting information...
2006-10-02 08:29:25 · answer #10 · answered by Chuckie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋