2007-02-12 00:43:59 · 16 answers · asked by louisburg_27549 1 in Health ➔ Other - Health
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.
Yet other folks echo the theme of other superstitions about sneezes, that these expulsions are either in themselves lucky or foretell good fortune coming the sneezer's way. For them, the "Bless you!" is a recognition of incoming good luck, possibly even an attempt on the blesser's part to attract a bit of it to himself.
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.
2007-02-12 01:09:34 · answer #1 · answered by Jessica 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
@rhbill: Your heart actually does stop when you sneeze.
@asker: People bless each other because old folklore dictates that when a person sneezes, demons have a chance to enter the body. By saying bless you they would protect the sneezer from the demons. Also it is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open, and if you are dumb enough to try it your eyes will pop out from their sockets.
2007-02-12 00:50:12 · answer #2 · answered by half_pint122000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think It comes from the time of the plague. Sort of 13th century ish. You know the song ring of roses? That comes from the plague too, 'atishoo atishoo we all fall down.' Some of the plague's symptoms were just like modern day flu (except for the skin discolouration), so if someone started sneezing, they were as good as dead because obviously there was no cure for it. Religion was still really important to people during the black death, so 'bless you' was a term adopted to try and save the souls of these folk who were condemned by this deadly virus.
2007-02-12 01:18:41 · answer #3 · answered by tilly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The superstition goes that your spirit leaves the body and "many have passed away from a sneeze". So by saying "Bless you" after someone sneezes, you're thanking them. Funny huh?
2007-02-12 00:52:19 · answer #4 · answered by Hot Momma 83 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have always been told that your heart actually stops beating when you sneeze. ( Just for that split second) . Maybe that's why people bless you when you sneeze? I really not sure, but that would be my guess?!
2007-02-12 00:49:05 · answer #5 · answered by candib 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ive heard a lot of different reasons, that it was because sneezing was though to be the first sign of getting the plague in the middle ages, and that you heart stops when you sneeze are the most common two ive heard
2007-02-12 01:04:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It goes way back to old folklore. Way back in the day people believed that when you sneezed it stopped your heart. They would say "God Bless You" to jump start your ticker again.
2007-02-12 00:47:44 · answer #7 · answered by rhbill00 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've always been told that when you sneeze, the devil can steal your soul. By blessing someone, you're protecting their soul.
2007-02-12 00:52:27 · answer #8 · answered by rustybones 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People used to believe that the 'devil' was making your nose itch and when you sneezed you were getting rid of him and your sins which meant you then needed to be blessed to protect you.
2007-02-12 00:47:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It was an old belief that when you sneezed demons could enter your body, so if you bless some one after they sneeze, they'd be demon free
2007-02-12 00:46:59 · answer #10 · answered by Clark Gable <3 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋