Why do we say "Bless You" when someone Sneezes?

Question

Why do English say "Bless You" when someone Sneezes?

Answer 1

Origins

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.

[edit] Superstition

Other explanations are based on superstitions and urban legends about sneezing and what a sneeze entails. Some well known superstitions that may have contributed to bringing "bless you" into common use are:

* The heart stops when you sneeze (it doesn't), and the phrase "bless you" is meant to ensure the return of life or to encourage your heart to continue beating.
* A sneeze is the expulsion of some sort of evil, and the phrase is meant to ward off the evil's re-entry.
* Your soul can be thrown from your body when you sneeze, and saying "bless you" prevents your soul from being stolen by Satan or some evil spirit. Thus, "bless you" or "God bless you" is used as a sort of shield against evil.
* A sneeze is good luck and saying "bless you" is no more than recognition of the sneezer's luckiness.

Alternatively, it may be possible that the phrase began simply as a response for an event that wasn't well understood at the time.

Another urban legend states that you cannot open your eyes while you sneeze, or if you manage to your eyes will pop out. Both of the statements are untrue.

Modern use

In many English-speaking countries, the German equivalent, gesundheit (which roughly means "good health!"), is proffered after sneezing.

Answer 2

A lot of countries have similar customs because the first sign of a lot of disease starts with sneezing from a simple cold to a plague! As they didn't have a knowledge of medicine all people understood was the results. If death is in the hands of God you Bless in his name that he will keep you and the sneezer healthy! In English the Blessing was May the lord Bless you and keep you. (In good health)
As each countries blessing would be the same It depends how they say it and what it was shortened too. The German 'Good Health' means the same thing. As medicine progressed it became just good manners! And the reason to say it was forgotten or not thought about.
think with Aids around instead of plague it is just as relevant as it ever was! When I say it I say May 'Your' God Bless you! I'm Atheist!

Answer 3

I really don't know!

I say 'God Bless' when anyone sneezes, I feel bad somehow when I'm in another room when I hear someone sneeze and say nothing.....kinda guilty! Only when it's family though.....when it's a stranger, I try to avoid there DNA as do not need their virus/cold!

We all know that's how germs are spread.....so I try to keep my distance when someone doesn't even cover there mouths!!!

(Do I need therapy)!?!

Answer 4

Its short for "God Bless You".
In the 17th century sneezing was often one of the first signs that someone had caught the plague and would soon be dying...

Similarly the plague is represented in the childrens' nursery rhyme "Ring-a-Ring of Roses"

Ring a ring of roses (A round rash caused by the plague)
A pocketful of posies (A posy of flowers carried to try to ward off germs)
ah-tishoo,ah-tishoo (The sneezing associated with the plague)
We all fall down. (dead)

Answer 5

Because i've seen that it helps people stop sneezing sooner, then later. When you say "Bless you" to people! Otherwise if you don't they continue to sneeze longer.

Answer 6

I believe it was a symptom of the black death....when people heard you sneeze they knew that you were going to die.....hence Bless you!

Answer 7

When people used to sneeze, people thought your soul could come out too. They didn't want the devil to get it, so they said "God Bless you"

I'm not joking, it's really true. I read an article on it. Some people have shortened it to "bless you."

Answer 8

sneezing was a sign of the plague.
It is reported that many believed the devil (diesese- whatever way you look at it) entered your body when you sneezed.
saying 'bless you' was a blessing on the soul, and protection against evil.

Answer 9

Its a saying that originated during the black death, if someone sneezed it was a sign of that person having the disease and they would die

Answer 10

It comes from midieval times, when people thought that a sneeze was a demon trying to possess a person, and sneezing was the soul trying to expell the demon. They would say "bless you" to aid the person.