Why do people say bless you when you sneeze?

Question

Does it have anything to do with religion? I was just wondering. And is it okay to say it to a complete stranger? I think I know that answer, but what if they don't believe in God? Will they still say thank you?

Answer 1

Because the ancient Celts believed that when you sneeze, you sneeze out your soul for a few seconds and if someone did not say "God bless you!" the devil would steal your soul.

I think it really has to do with superstition more than religion. This was normally done around Halloween(when people were very superstitious) but it started being done year round after a while.

Of course! It's polite to say it to a complete stranger. I hate that awkward moment where someone sneezes and you don't know whether to say anything and you just stand there in silence. Most polite people say thank you if you say bless you. :)

Answer 2

In ancient times, it was believed that the soul left your body when you sneezed and that evil spirits could then enter. Blessing you was supposed to prevent this.

Pope Gregory the Great (540-604 AD) ascended to the Papacy just in time for the start of the plague. Gregory (who also invented the Gregorian chant) called for litanies, processions and unceasing prayer for intercession. Columns marched through the streets chanting, "Kyrie Eleison" (Greek for "Lord have mercy"). When someone sneezed, they were immediately blessed 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.

In the Dark Ages, it was believed that your heart stopped momentarily when you sneezed. You were, in effect, dead for an instant and had to be blessed. 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 does your soul get expelled, nor will your eyes pop out if you could keep them open.

In the final analysis, it may not be as much about souls leaping out or demons clawing to get in as it is about simple human acknowledgment of another's presence.

Answer 3

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.

It is perfectly okay to say it to a perfect stranger. Even if they don't believe in God, they believe in some type of god or spirits. And Most should say thank you.

Answer 4

Mostly based on old folklore. After a person sneezes, there is always a rapid intake of air back into the body. Many believed that at that time, demons would find it easier to enter the human body, and therefore, take over that persons soul. Bless you was started as a way to prevent the demons from accomplishing this task.

Answer 5

It was thought that the soul escaped thru a sneeze. By saying God bless you, it was returned. I doubt if anyone would take offense knowing that it was said in kindness. I do say it to strangers, but only if they're in close proximity.

Answer 6

I was always told that in the old days, before we had good medicine, having a sneeze could mean that you had the beginnings of some serious disease that could kill you. So we say "God bless you" as an indirect & polite way of saying, "I hope that you don't get sick & die".

Answer 7

Sneezing was the first sign of the Black Death, so you want God to bless you

Answer 8

Because long ago it was thought that your heart stops when you sneeze and so people would say "bless you" incase you died or something like that.

Answer 9

You're losing your soul when you sneeze! it's getting away! keep it by blessing the person sneaking!!! AAACCCCCK I just sneezed and no one blessed me.

I'm screwed.


(Try this for a change, when someone sneezes, say Damn you instead)

Answer 10

Its obviously developed into a matter of ettiquete, but originated from the idea (not a current one) that saying "god bless you" would ward off demons or malicious forces.