Why do we only say ":God Bless You" when someone sneezes and not when someone coughs?

Question

Like okay, they say your heart skips a beat when you sneeze but when your caughing you could choke or something. So why not say god bless you?

Answer 1

It relates to times of infection & disease, probably plague in old England. The old folk song below refers:

Ring a ring of roses (spots on the skin)
a pocket full of posies (flowers to mask the putrid smell)
ah-ti-shoo, ah-ti-shoo (symptoms of plague)
we all fall down (we all die).

I remember singing this a lot as a child, and I'm not that old!

Answer 2

It is certainly superstition that began this custom. Part of it may be that the vast majority of us cannot keep our eyes open when we sneeze unintentionally. This is a good thing, because a sneeze makes our face push forward at something like 80 miles per hour, and suddently stop. The physics involved would perhaps cause our eyeballs harm. Nonetheless, when people cannot see things, that's when they rely on faith- which can be described as the hope in things yet unseen (see Hebrews 12:1).
Many people call out to God when their body does something, and they cannot see. We share needs with one another, and perhaps that is why the idea of needing God's blessing for a sneeze arises in so many different cultures, perhaps many of which did not deal with the plague as Europe did.

Certainly, in times of illness, pleple call on the Lord. But, if that were the whole story, we would say "God bless you" or a similar phrase for a cough, too, as well as for a fever or other sign of illness. I wonder if the lack of ability to keep ones eyes open during a sneeze is what also led to all the superstitions about it, like the soul's leaving the body, etc.

I tend to say, "God bless you whether or not you sneeze", in response to a sneeze, if I know the person well, and he or she would understand it. I do not worship superstitions, and I am not afraid of a sneeze- but as it is written at the beginning of Romans 14, if it will be more in keeping with the etiquette of the people I know, then I certainly want to say it. In my family, we didn't, although I was born here in the United States. My mother's family did not have that tradition, although my father's family did. As a consequence, I have learned that many of my friends thought that I did not want God to bless them if I did not say it, but others thought I was superstitious if I did, and since neither is true, I clarify. If I sneeze and nobody says anything, I feel right at home. : c )

Answer 3

Many centuries ago -- when religion went hand-in-hand with superstitious fables -- people believed that when you sneezed the soul became exposed/vulnerable.

By invoking the name of God, you protect the soul, warding off any evil that may be lurking nearby.

As to coughing, it could be that coughs are not blessed in a similar manner because sneezes are usually far more physically "violent" than a cough, and the force behind a sneeze would be more likely to make the soul vulnerable.

A related something that may be of interest: I've seen the same thing (invoking a divine blessing after a sneeze) in a number of different languages and cultures. Amazing how supersititious minds think alike -- regardless of distance, culture or religion.

Answer 4

Once upon a time people thought that when we sneeze our spirit leaves the body and a blessing will call it safely back. I say God bless you for a cough, too.

Answer 5

some human beings have already suggested the plague... Sneezing substitute into generally a demonstration that a guy or woman had caught the plague in the process the middle a while, so human beings asked God to have mercy on the ill guy or woman by saying "bless Yyou." yet another clarification for saying bless you besides mght arose in the middle a while. human beings curiously concept that we can sneeze our souls out. which could have meant eternal damnation (going to Hell after dying). so they suggested "bless you" to renounce this from going on.

Answer 6

I never quite got it either. I think in many house holds, including mine, it's been a generation thing to say "God Bless you" when someone sneezes. You could look it up to see where it originally came from. I do just know that it's some sign of manners and respect.




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Answer 7

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Answer 8

They used to say it because it was linked to a disease. They had no medicine like we do now, so it was more than likely they were going to die once they started sneezing!

I know, it sounds weird. Not sure if a cough was involved.

Answer 9

At one time it was thought that when you sneezed it allowed a demon to take possession of your body. By saying 'bless you' hindered the possession or proclaimed it depending on your religion.

Answer 10

Because sneezing was linked to plague