why do people say "bless you" after someone sneezes?

Answer 1

Yea - What Janesmom said.

Answer 2

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.

The connection of sneezing to the plague is not the first association of sneezing with death. 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.

These days, one says "Bless you!" because it is expected, not out of concern for the wellbeing of the sneezer's soul or a need to disassociate oneself from
the dying. During a multiple sneeze episode, bless once after the first sneeze and once after the last. Blessing each time gets tiring.

Answer 3

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.

Answer 4

The truth of the matter is this, yes "God bless you" or simply "bless you" started long ago with the myth your soul left and evil could steal it from you.....but why do people really say "bless you" now. People want to be polite to one another and it sounds quite kind to bless someone when the "sneeze" opportunity arises. Its the same as saying please and thank you to others, its just being kind, which truly is love for your fellow man. I think its a good thing.........."love" that is.

Answer 5

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

Answer 6

Quite simply it dates back to the time of the Black Plague in Europe. The first symptoms of the Black Plague was sneezing and coughing, and when someone would cought, the automatic thought process in that time was that the person had contracted the plague and was going to die.. hence the Bless You.. they were being blessed before their death.

Answer 7

It has to do with Typhoid Mary. In Britain during the ____ century when typhoid and bubonic plague spread, it was mainly during the gatherings in churches. People gathered there and whenever people sneezed, they'd say 'bless you', hoping that the sneeze would not carry germs.

Answer 8

I think it has to do with the Black Plague where a symptom was sneezing, usually meaning death was immanent. Therefore it was quite common for people to say "God Bless You" as they assumed that you were nearing death.

Answer 9

People say,"Bless you" when u sneeze,because when you sneeze your heart stops for a millisecond.

Answer 10

I have heard 2 different reasons:

1.. Your heart stops for a very brief moment when you sneeze

and also

2.. You soul escapes when you sneeze

Answer 11

I think its in their tradition that after a person sneeze they say (bless u). Most Filipino people say dat.