2007-01-24 07:00:49 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Allergies
Saying "God Bless You" when someone sneezes does date from medieval times. It is actually said because the Church taught that demons could enter a persons body easily when they were distracted or ill.
Just like Halloween was supposed to be a time when the dimensions were thin and demons and spirits could pass through to our dimension - when you sneezed your guard was down and, as demons were just lurking around waiting for a chance to possess you, it was up to your companion to quickly say "God Bless You" to confound the evil spirts' intent.
2007-01-24 07:36:09 · answer #1 · answered by Fritzie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
B/C people used to think that when you sneezed you were casting out your demons, so they would say God Bless You.
2007-01-24 15:09:26 · answer #2 · answered by tiffantre 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
apparently the superstition is when you sneeze you leave a void where the devil can get in, by saying bless you you save them from this
2007-01-24 15:49:30 · answer #3 · answered by snoopyfanno1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you sneeze, your heart stops for a second and thats why you should say bless you.
2007-01-24 15:08:22 · answer #4 · answered by hmmmm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is believed that when a person sneezes, their whole body stops, heart, lungs, organs, etc, and then start up on their own again by themselves...."bless you" is for your heart not staying stopped.
2007-01-24 15:09:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been told by my mom, because when you sneeze your heart stops a moment.
2007-01-24 15:06:08 · answer #6 · answered by lindasue m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tradition... it's an old response... and why not? It is not like anyone can get offended if you say bless you... now if we said curse you that would be a different story... plus it would be kind of funny. : )
2007-01-24 15:34:30 · answer #7 · answered by Wolfcub 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because when u sneeze...ur one step close to death...if ur eyes are open ur eye balls could protrude (go out)...ur heart stops for less than a second...so u needs god bless
2007-01-25 05:54:43 · answer #8 · answered by max h 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't HAVE to, but the expression dates back to the Middle Ages when any sign of illness was feared as a harbinger of death.
2007-01-24 15:09:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
like the first person said, i think i've heard people long ago believe your heart actually stopped for a moment
2007-01-24 15:08:53 · answer #10 · answered by i rock 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋