2006-10-12 07:04:41 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Other - Health
Folklore use to say that when we sneezed was the only time the devil could enter your body, so people say BLESS YOU afterwords to keep the devil out!
2006-10-12 07:06:25 · answer #1 · answered by Angel Eve 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
People used to say "God bless you" after a person sneezed in the old days due to various beliefs back then, such as:
-your heart was believed to stop when you sneeze
-the devil made you sneeze
-sneezing was a sure sign of death
-etc.
Of course, these days "God bless you" has been shortened to "bless you" these days.
The link below from Snopes also provides a more detailed answer.
2006-10-12 14:10:19 · answer #2 · answered by chibibananachan 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the Middle Ages, it was believed that the act of sneezing temporarily opened a gateway through which a demon could enter the body and possess a person. Therefore, the "Bless you!" is a ritual gesture to ward off inimical forces that might try to invade during the sneeze.
2006-10-12 14:08:05 · answer #3 · answered by trident_of_paracelsus 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is God Bless You, or should be. When you sneeze, your heart stops for a second. When you are done with the sneeze, people say this, because God has Blessed you to stay alive.
In Italian we say Salude, or To Your Health.
2006-10-12 14:08:38 · answer #4 · answered by nanners040477 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
According to Straight Dope:
We started saying, "God bless you" during the Black Plague when Pope Gregory the Great called for unceasing prayer for help from God. Whenever someone sneezed they were immediately blessed.
2006-10-12 14:10:37 · answer #5 · answered by Jason W 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Believed to date back to the Romans. They thought sneezing was bad luck, so said "Bless you" as a safeguard.
Probably not thought too good during the Black Death either, as sneezing spreads disease.
2006-10-12 14:09:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have heard it said that the first symptoms of having caught the black plague in 17th century Europe was sneezing. Since there was no hope for someone who fell to this terrible disease it would make sense for those around to say "bless you" (poor soul soon to be departed)
2006-10-12 14:16:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
technically you are only supposed to say it after the second sneeze
the first sneeze lets the devil out and the second sneeze lets him back in again and therefore warrants the response "bless you"
2006-10-12 14:09:25 · answer #8 · answered by quest1494 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When I was younger, I heard that when you sneez, your heart stops, momentarily. So, we say bless you, to make sure it starts back up again...
Lot very logical sounding now that I am older, but it sounded good at the time!
2006-10-12 14:09:31 · answer #9 · answered by misscongeniality711 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Supposedly, when you sneeze, your heart stops for that second so you say bless you for God to bless your heart.
2006-10-12 14:09:28 · answer #10 · answered by *SexXyLuV* 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋