2006-12-04 23:51:49 · 11 answers · asked by snoopygirl 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I always thought "bless you" was said because when you sneeze your soul may be taken by the devil, and saying "God bless you" (shortened to bless you) prevented it from happening.
It's like Milhouse from The Simpsons says "when you sneeze, that's your soul trying to escape. Saying god bless you crams it back in."
2006-12-05 00:53:03 · answer #1 · answered by Max 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It has been said that when one sneezes an evil part of their soul leaves their body. That is why if you sneeze you are blessed! However, this is not something that I made up, it is information that was passed on to me by an elder in my community.
2006-12-05 00:02:22 · answer #2 · answered by JAWBONE!!!! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an old tradition about when you sneeze, you are passing evil out around you, so someone says Bless You to protect you from that evil.
2006-12-05 00:04:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is believed that when you sneeze your heart skips a beat when you sneeze, hence, we say Bless You!
2006-12-05 02:03:10 · answer #4 · answered by ParisLynn16 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ring a ring of Roses. (That's what the plauge rash looked like.)
A pocket full of Possies. (Thought to ward off the Plauge)
Ahtishoo Ahtishoo (You have the Plauge)
You all fall down (Dead)
So if U sneezed U were blessed because U were going to die
2006-12-05 00:04:27 · answer #5 · answered by ub6 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Old wives tale says you can die while sneezing repeatedly so just in case you do....bless you!
Level 4 now....THANKS
2006-12-05 00:00:30 · answer #6 · answered by U can't b serious 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One belief was that when sneezed it was a deamon trying to steal your soul. When someone said "bless you" it was supposed to depower the deamon and allow your soul to remain within you.
2006-12-05 00:00:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I goes back to the times of plague and the black death. Have a look at the nursery rhyme "Ring a ring a roses"
2006-12-04 23:55:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Al-Bukhaari (6224) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“When one of you sneezes, let him say, ‘Al-hamdu-Lillaah (Praise be to Allaah),’ and let his brother or companion say to him. ‘Yarhamuk Allaah (May Allaah have mercy on you).’"
So when someone sneezes, and praises Allah, we say to him/her may Allah have mercy on you.
Why? Cuz the Messenger of God (saw) taught us that way! And Allah (swt) said,
"Whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it. And whatever he forbids you, abstain from it." [Qur'an 59:7]
2006-12-05 00:47:50 · answer #9 · answered by phoneme 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Adding to these answers, it's interesting to note that other languages have broadly similar equivalents to the English 'Bless you!':
French: A tes souhaits! = To your wishes!
German: Gesundheit = To your health!
Spanish: Jesus (te salve)! - Jesus (save you)!
2006-12-05 00:34:59 · answer #10 · answered by HRW 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋