I know God Blessed all of us. But why do they say it when you sneeze?
2007-05-13 08:01:46 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are many common explanations but no one seems to know the true origins of this.
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.
So many explanations -- each deeply believed -- for such a simple and often unquestioned practice. And we'll never know which one is right.
2007-05-13 08:11:03 · answer #1 · answered by babydoll 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sneezing is said to be a sort of a curse, if u agree! When u sneeze, it is said, u must not do the work or anything which u were looking for before sneezing or must not do anything at all for at least a minute or two after u sneeze. When people say GOD BLESS YOU when u sneeze, they pray for u that whatever u do after sneezing, wud get right and think by saying that, God might be helping you or helping u out of the trouble u might get in. So, when u sneeze, people say GOD BLESS YOU only for ur cause and safety.
2007-05-13 08:15:47 · answer #2 · answered by Syed S 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
In the old days, they used to think that people lost a part of their soul when they sneezed. God Bless You was meant as a protection of the soul.
2007-05-13 08:05:12 · answer #3 · answered by sandstone901 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it is a habit now...most people dont mean it because there is no longer any special reason 2 give them blessings. the phrase came out of dark ages when the bubonic plague was spreading around europe. sneezing was a sign that some1 had the illness so when some1 sneezed people would say God bless you because there was a good chance that person would die. we continue 2 say that now and it is just a habit 4 most people. it is good however 2 bless random people 4 no reason
2016-05-17 08:02:57 · answer #4 · answered by jackie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just a cultural thing. You see, during the days of the Plague, a sneeze was a deadly sign that you'd caught the disease, so people would say God Bless because they expected you to die very soon.
And it's just stuck since then.
2007-05-13 08:06:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I heard it was because people used to believe your "spirit" was leaving you when you sneezed, so they had to ask God to bless you so it would go back in. Seems crazy, but thats what I heard!
2007-05-13 08:04:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
long ago people believed that part of your "soul" left you when you sneezed, and so others would say "God Bless you"...or so that is what I have been told.
2007-05-13 08:03:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I've heard most of these stories above......but I've also heard the story that when you sneeze, your soul is more susceptible to letting demons in. So people say bless you so the demons won't get in.
2007-05-13 08:07:10 · answer #8 · answered by Abby C 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's rumored that when you sneeze, your heart stops. So when people say "God bless you", they're wishing you good health.
2007-05-13 08:05:01 · answer #9 · answered by La Kitsune 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
They can't pronounce, "gesundheit"! ;)
Historically, a sneeze was thought to make a person vulernable for entrance of the body by the Evil One or one or more of his demons, so "bless you", "God bless you", "gesundheit"(German for "soundness" or "sound health"), or some variation, was uttered to counteract it.
2007-05-13 08:20:05 · answer #10 · answered by trebor namyl hcaeb 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋