say "bless you" after you sneeze!
2007-02-01 08:36:06 · 9 answers · asked by danielle s 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Long ago it was thought that a sneeze was the start of the plague or something hellish like that, so you would be blessed in the hope it was a cold or something.
2007-02-01 08:40:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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.
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.
2007-02-01 16:40:01 · answer #2 · answered by froggypjs 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well : it's the polite way to say "Bless You" when some one
does sneez ! because very good idea ok?S
2007-02-01 16:55:33 · answer #3 · answered by toddk57@sbcglobal.net 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparently it came about during the days of the plague - a sneeze was a symptom of being infected and people would 'bless you'
2007-02-01 16:40:18 · answer #4 · answered by Flossie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its an old belief that sneezing gave the devil a chance to get at you.
so saying bless you was to ward off evil
2007-02-01 16:40:40 · answer #5 · answered by steven m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a long times ago people thought that if you sneezed the devil would come out (no joke). It's the same as putting your hand over your mouth when cough so that the devil/ bad stuff won't come out. Saying 'bless you' would almost nutralise the bad stuff.
2007-02-01 16:41:37 · answer #6 · answered by sidewinder 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maby because they used to think there brains were fallin out wen thy sneezed so if some one blessed thm the would b ok
2007-02-01 16:39:33 · answer #7 · answered by hiyaihopeicanhelp 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It goes back to the plague days and you can guess the rest
2007-02-04 11:45:51 · answer #8 · answered by Professor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its an old saying that the devil is trying to get out.
but i thought it was aload of c**p
2007-02-01 16:40:53 · answer #9 · answered by jamie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋