Why do people say "Bless You" immediately after u sneeze ?

Answer 1

In Medieval times people believed that when you sneezed, you opened yourself up for the Devil to enter your body and so they would say "Bless You" to prevent this happening.

Answer 2

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.


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.
If the sneezer replies "Thank you" then a fairy is killed. [verification needed]
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 used after sneezing OR COUGHING. Coughing was originally coined by the one and only Shannon Mendt in the early 1950s, from the unknown television show called "billy and the stevens".

Answer 3

I found this at the link: Ask Moses.com

What is the origin of saying “gezuntheit” or “G-d bless you” after someone sneezes?
by Rabbi Herschel Finman

Although not technically part of Jewish Law - Halacha, the custom of saying gezuntheit, tzu gezunt, labreeyut, or G-d bless you is considered a mannerly custom. It is written in the Talmud that the Patriarch Jacob was the first person to become ill before passing on. Before that, people would sneeze and die. When G-d infused the soul into Man, He "blew it" into Adam's nostrils. Thus, when it came time for the soul to be returned to its Maker, it would leave through the same portal it arrived.


The Patriarch Jacob was the first person to become sick. Before that, people would sneeze and dieFurthermore, sneezing has always been an indication of being sick. During the Middle Ages, when plague was common, a sneeze could have meant a serious, incurable disease. People would wish that person to be blessed.

My bubby taught me that the first time a person sneezes it is proper to say tsu gezunt – to your health; the second time, tsum leben – for your life; and the third time, tzum langer yoren – for long years.

It is also customary among many after one sneezes to gently tug one’s earlobe and recite the verse, “lee-shua-techa keviti Hashem – I hope for your salvation, O G-d.”


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Answer 4

According to science, it is proven that the human heart beat stops at the time of sneezing and there is some much pressure that if you sneeze hard you can get a fractured rib. So that is why people say "Bless You" after sneezing.

Answer 5

A long time ago people used to believe that when you sneezed you were expelling bad spirits, and saying bless you was a way to make them go away and not come back.

Answer 6

During the great plague of London where people died in thier thousands, the first sign of getting the illness was a cold so sneezing could mean you were infected with the plague. People blessed you in case you dropped dead.

Answer 7

It was believed, many years ago, that when you sneeze there leaves a momentary opening to your soul through which satan could enter. The "Bless you" is meant for God to bless you keeping satan out of your soul.

Answer 8

When you sneeze all germs comes out and attacks the person near you. Sorry or Bless You conveys same meaning.

Answer 9

It was an old wives tale that your heart skipped a beat when you sneeze so people said "bless you" hoping your heart would keep beating.

Answer 10

It goes back to the days of thr black plague. When someone displayed the early symptoms of the disease wich are flu-like, they would say god bless you because it was generally certain that death was soon to follow. Over the years it just stuck.