why do you say "G_d Bless You "when someone sneezes?

Answer 1

Goes back to the black Plague Era.

When if someone got sick, had a cold, sneezed etc.. you know they were going to die soon, so people would say god bless you.

I sneeze up to 5 times in a row.. most people know to wait for me to finish before saying bless you.

And stop beating of the heart,, gee.. the amount of times i sneeze a day and how many times in a row .. you would think i would be dead by now.. with all that stopping and starting of my heart.. Might be scientifically true but , God Bless you was around way before any scientist found that one out.

Answer 2

The origin of the "bless you" tradition is not entirely clear. The urban legend experts at Snopes.com list an impressive number of possibilities. One involves the (hopefully) mistaken belief that a human's soul might escape through a sneeze. Saying "God bless you" wards off Satan while the soul is temporarily vulnerable.

Another story veers toward the medical. Once upon an unenlightened time, people believed that the heart stopped during a sneeze. A hearty "God bless you" set the ol' ticker back in motion. Keep in mind these were the days before defibrillators and HMOs.

Interesting, but the most popular theory comes from the Middle Ages. During the bubonic plague, a sneeze was believed to be a sign of impending death. "God bless you" was "a way of commending his soul to the care of God." The phrase may have also come in handy to protect oneself if someone nearby sneezed.

Today, "bless you" is more a sign of good manners than a shield against death. If only folks were as courteous about other involuntary bodily functions...








·

Answer 3

Common among the explanations are:

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.

Conversely, the sneeze itself was the expulsion of a demon or evil spirit which had taken up residence in a person. Therefore, although the "Bless you!" was again a protective charm meant to protect the sneezer from evil, in this version it was meant to ward off the re-entry of an evil spirit which a tormented soul had just rid itself of.

The heart was believed to momentarily stop during a sneeze (it doesn't), thus the "Bless you!" was uttered either as a supplication for life to return or as a congratulation upon its successful restart.

Others claim an association of the practice with particular dire diseases (most often the bubonic plague, or "Black Death," as it is sometimes known). They say an infected person's sneeze was sure sign he'd soon be pushing up daisies, thus the "Bless you!" was intended as a benediction to the nearly-departed, a way of commending his soul to the care of God now that he was beyond the help of anything in the mortal world.

Finally, some see the sneeze as a blessing bestowed by the sneezer upon the sneezed-upon. Answering a sneeze with "Bless you!" is seen as nothing more remarkable than replying "Good morning!" to the person who had just greeted you with the same phrase.

Answer 4

I KNOW THIS ONE!!!

Way back in the day in Europe. It was believed that when you sneezed evil spirits could enter you. Because your eyes are closed and your mouth is open. I know this sound superstitious but it is true. After a person sneezed, other people would give a prayer. After the years have gone by. This belief has been dropped and the pray has turned into a simple God bless you.

Answer 5

Most cultures practice an automated response to a public sneeze. These responses usually contain some sort of well-wishing such as: "health to you", "prosperity", "peace be upon you"; these have of course been translated into English. Old English is chock full of protestant well-wishing. "God Bless You" is just another way to ensure that people take the time to wish their fellow human well. Its a nice sentiment in a country where we are growing farther and farther apart. And just think...its all because of a habit due to our culture and roots.

Answer 6

A long time ago, before people knew what the stuff in your nose was, if some one sneezed they thought it was your soul escaping out of your Earthly body. So to keep your "soul" from going away, they say "Bless you."

Answer 7

way back when, and I really don't know the time-line, people believed that sneezing was the closest you come to dying because that's when most of your air is out of your body so this left room for evil spirits to enter you. Sooo, they would say God Bless you to scare off the evil spirits.

Answer 8

You're heart skips a beat when you sneeze, so you say God Bless You (because he's not ending your life) ^_^

Answer 9

When someone sneezes his heart stops and saying "God bless you" means "I'm glad your heart started again."
Saying "God bless you" when you sneeze keeps the devil from flying down your throat.
When someone sneezes, say "God bless you and may the devil miss you."
When you sneeze your soul tries to escape and saying "God bless you" crams it back in (said by Millhouse in an episode of The Simpsons).

Answer 10

Wives tale of heart skipping a beat when one sneezes, hence people said God Bless you to ensure the heart would resume beating as usual.