My bf and I are at loggerheads over whether one should say BLESS YOU when someone sneezes. He says it is something only girls say! But it is not true - isn't it common practise?
2006-10-19 03:44:37 · 43 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I say it and it is common practice.
2006-10-19 03:46:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The reason we say bless you is based on an old wives tale that whenever you sneezed you lost a part of your soul. Obviously this must be true since there are so many evil people out there
2006-10-19 05:50:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is pretty common and not just a female thing. It used to be superstition, a possible sign that you were seriously ill (plague, influenza etc) and so one would bless someone to ward off potential harm.
These days it's just seen a social trait (politeness) - although technically, it isn't really required anymore! It certainly isn't a female only thing as my partner, father, brother and all the men at my work all say it!
2006-10-19 03:54:11 · answer #3 · answered by Pington 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard the term came from the time of the Black Death where people would say "bless you" as when you started sneezing etc you had the virus/or whatever it was and were near the end.
Therefore I'd say it's not rude not to say it.
2006-10-19 03:50:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's common sense to excuse yourself when u sneeze, and if u dont then someone normally says it anyway... I always say bless you... when I sneeze and almost anyone I know does the same...he's just tryin to annoy u ...where he got his information from bout girls only sayin it is bull... my hubby and 4 boys all say it.
2006-10-22 09:22:48 · answer #5 · answered by ann b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
'Bless YOU", was what people used to say when the Black Death was around. Everybody was dying and usually it started by those infected by sneezing. Hence the Bless you, they knew the person was going to die. I always say Bless you when someone sneezes, you never know:)
2006-10-19 03:51:07 · answer #6 · answered by Duisend-poot 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your right it is common practise, men and women should do it, it's polite. i have sneezing fit's 5-14 at a time. i don't expect any one to say bless you when i sneeze but I'm grateful when they do.
2006-10-19 03:50:56 · answer #7 · answered by rock_style 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It,s not really etiquette , it all stems back to the time of the plague when sneezing was a sign and people would cross themselves and say "God bless you". It,s entirely up to the individual as to wether they say it or not. I personally always do !
2006-10-23 00:06:46 · answer #8 · answered by Helen L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's one of the Christian things that has it's roots in paganism and superstition. Supposedly, you are vulnerable to demons entering youwhen you sneeze, so blessing is 'sposed to prevent that. Another story a Christian relative once told me is that it give the devil an opportunity to steal your soul, so you must scare him off with a blessing.
Personally, I ignore it and, as an atheist, do not feel compelled to say it.
2006-10-19 03:58:23 · answer #9 · answered by Skeff 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its actually a religous thing! 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.
2006-10-19 03:50:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes it is common practise, most people just say it out of habit I think, but it is nice to be nice. Good manors are forgoten these days I feel.
2006-10-19 03:52:58 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋