2006-10-25 07:57:59 · 34 answers · asked by Mong T 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Superstition to do with evil spirits
2006-10-25 08:00:41 · answer #1 · answered by jeff 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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 (www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_30 4.html), 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 (don't tell us; we don't want to know).
There are many superstitions regarding sneezing, some of which you've already listed. 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.
2006-10-25 15:24:40 · answer #2 · answered by kizkat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's simply tradition. I've heard a lot of different stories about how people use to think that sneezing was a way to get the demons out of your body....or trying to come out....or something like that. Anyhow, if you don't go by hearsay, you can break it down simply by saying American tradition. It doesn't really mean anything because God surely does bless you, sneezing or not. It's just something nice to say.
2006-10-25 08:00:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually I would think you were a goofus if you say God bless you after you sneeze. But if you look it up on the web, people used to think evil spirits caused sneezes, if I remember correctly.
2006-10-25 08:25:14 · answer #4 · answered by createdorjustcrap? 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It started out as folklore in that the belief was that when one sneezes, they are ridding their body of evil spirits. I never say God bless you. In the USA, we say Bless You! I suppose you could say excuse you or kazoontite, but I prefer Bless you.
2006-10-25 11:21:29 · answer #5 · answered by sherijgriggs 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It goes back to the plague. Generally, you sneeze when you're getting sick, and back in the days of the plague, if you got sick, you weren't getting better.
So when someone heard you sneeze, others would say "God bless you," because they were pretty sure you were going to die.
2006-10-25 08:14:40 · answer #6 · answered by sylvia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It started during the Bubonic Plague and other plagues. People believed that all disease was punishment for sin so the line "God Bless You" was a blessing. This was a way to say I hope you get better.
And of course the tradition continues today.
2006-10-25 08:07:49 · answer #7 · answered by my_iq_135 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because in the old days around the roman catholic church they used to think that everytime you sneezed, that you lost 1 second off of your life. SO they would say god bless you.
2006-10-25 08:06:24 · answer #8 · answered by fullerfyed 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe this prates began back in the days of the plague because when people sneezed it was known they were going to die. God bless
2006-10-25 15:39:35 · answer #9 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is said that when you sneeze, part of your soul leaves your body, so saying "God Bless You" is a sort of protection against evil spirits that may harm you.
2006-10-25 08:07:33 · answer #10 · answered by Lizzie03 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I never say God Bless You!! I usually Just Ignore The Whole Thing!!
2006-10-25 08:00:06 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋