Everyone sneezes sometimes...aren't coughs usually indicative of something more threatening to one's health?
2006-12-06 18:21:20 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
There are different theories regarding the origin of this phrase. One idea is that the expression stems from the Middle Ages when the Bubonic Plague was threatening European health. In this case the person saying gesundheit was actually wishing good health upon themselves, since they may have been infected by the one who sneezed. During this time it was also commonly believed that sneezing made one's body vulnerable to evil spirits. Thus another plausible explanation is that gesundheit was a blessing to ward off demons while the sneezer's body was defenseless.
2006-12-06 18:25:37 · answer #1 · answered by supensa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In English-speaking countries, it is common for at least one person to say "God bless you" (or just "Bless you") after someone sneezes. This tradition originates from the Middle Ages, when it was believed that when one sneezed, the heart stops, the soul left the body and could be snatched by an evil spirit. Today, it is said mostly in the spirit of good manners.
Coughing is an action the body takes to get rid of substances that are irritating the air passages. A cough is usually initiated to clear a buildup of phlegm in the trachea.
I did not find folklore for coughing...interesting...it is, as you said, indicative to more health problems if considered chronic.
2006-12-06 19:05:24 · answer #2 · answered by terryoulboub 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Suspensa is right. However,I only knew about the bubonic plague,not the other. Supposedly a cough or sneeze was symptomatic of onset of the plague so everyone said gesundheit as a blessing same as we say 'bless you'.
2006-12-06 19:08:42 · answer #3 · answered by wonder woman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Saying "bless you" originated during the Plague, when sneezing was a sign that that person might be getting the illness. So they would be blessed.
By the way, gesundheit is "bless you" in German.
2006-12-06 23:10:02 · answer #4 · answered by Jason 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was thought that your soul flew out of you when you sneezed, but by saying "God bless you," God was able to protect your soul and carry it safely back to you. Coughing, though, was not seen this way; as far as I know, it was seen simply as a sign of ill health.
2006-12-06 18:24:49 · answer #5 · answered by Ken N 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BELIEVE IT OR NOT...
we also have this in Islam, when someone sneezes we say "Mercy upon you" , so I think it is an old religion tradition then, it is said that this is what Adam PBUH did when he first got the soul experience.
2006-12-06 23:42:20 · answer #6 · answered by shdtt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say "Gesundheit" to a sneeze, cough, burp, and fart. I have no idea what gesundheit means; I grew up hearing it, so I say it out of etiquette... except for the latter two occasions... I say it, bc it makes people chuckle.
2006-12-06 18:24:06 · answer #7 · answered by scruffycat 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I thought it was because people used to believe that your soul or spirit flew out when you sneezed.
2006-12-06 18:23:29 · answer #8 · answered by Pico 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋