2006-10-05 16:00:07 · 12 answers · asked by heaner_gurl 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
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
2006-10-09 11:20:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Traditionally, people in the Medieval times thought that your soul was trying to escape your body when you sneezed, so they assumed a "bless you" would take care of that problem. I believe that when you sneeze, it's also the only time your body doesn't have control of your heart, so a "bless you" would invoke God to help you, I guess.
2006-10-05 16:03:40 · answer #2 · answered by Nowhere Man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It dates back to mid-evil times. When the black plauge was spreading faster than air, If you were to sneeze people associated that with the illness. The said "Bless you" in the hopes that you may be blessed and carry on without cathcing the horrible plauge. Its a habbit anymore, polite really.
2006-10-05 16:05:06 · answer #3 · answered by The pink Soccer ball 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a superstition-when someone says bless you, they keep your soul from coming out with the sneeze.
2006-10-05 16:02:19 · answer #4 · answered by ♠Towelie♠ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard it goes back to the belief that as you sneeze, it leaves your body vulnerable to evil spirits. So some one has to say "bless you" to prevent the spirits from entering.
2006-10-05 16:10:45 · answer #5 · answered by BUDDY LUV 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Long ago folks thought when you sneezed your soul popped out, so they wanted your soul to be blessed when it did! lol I know, kind of dumb.
Now we just use it as an opportunity to bless someone :)
2006-10-05 16:03:39 · answer #6 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because in anient times people believed that your heart stopped when you sneezed. They would say God bless you hoping that it would help to keep you from dying.
2006-10-05 16:03:11 · answer #7 · answered by james 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to sneez and keep your eyes open at the same time... If you can successfully do so, your eyes will pop out of your head.
2006-10-05 16:12:43 · answer #8 · answered by HEAL ONESELF 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's from an old Chinese belief that, when somebody sneezed, it meant that the evil spirits were leaving their body.
2006-10-05 16:04:26 · answer #9 · answered by rhino 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is an old wives tale, people say God bless you because your heart stops beating. Also when they say gazuntheit(spelling?) it is German for the same thing.
2006-10-05 16:03:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋