Why do we say 'bless you' when people sneeze?

Question

just curious =P

Answer 1

Ok, I could be wrong, but once I heard it was because along time ago, they believed that when you sneezed it was like a bad spirit being expelled from the body or something like that and to say, "bless you" was to protect the person doing the sneezing from getting the bad spirit back or something.
Great question, by the way!

Answer 2

Origins

One traditional explanation for the custom is that it began literally as a blessing. Pope Gregory I the Great (AD 540-604) ascended to the Papacy just in time for the start of the bubonic plague in AD 590 (his successor succumbed to it). To combat the plague, Gregory ordered litanies, processions, and unceasing prayer for God's blessing. When someone sneezed (seen as the initial onset of the plague), they were immediately blessed ("God bless you!") in the hope that they would not actually develop the disease.

[edit] Superstition

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 belief that the heart stops when you sneeze, and the phrase "bless you" is meant to ensure the return of life or to encourage your heart to continue beating. (Of course, the heart beats because of electrical pulses that are not affected by normal functions like sneezing.)
* 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. During a sneeze the impulses travel through your face causing your eyelids to blink, this response is entirely automatic.

In many English-speaking countries, the German equivalent, gesundheit (which means "good health"), is used after sneezing or coughing.

[edit] Alternative intent

One other usage of the phrase "Bless you" in response to a sneeze is to bless or thank a person who sneezes but covers his or her mouth and nose with a tissue, handerkerchief, sleeve, or even a hand (hopefully then washing the hands before touching shared items) as an act of concern and courtesy to others, in order to avoid spreading the germs expelled so as not to sicken other people. Presumably, a person who fails to demonstrate such concern and courtesy by not covering the mouth and nose during a sneeze would not be blessed or thanked.

[edit] References

Answer 3

The pope made it a law to say "God Bless You" when the great plague swept through. Sneezing violently became a sign that the ill were close to death. Before the great plague, sneezing was considered lucky because it was said to dispel evil from the body.
Covering the mouth and nose when sneezing, became a way to keep the soul intact.

Answer 4

YES! Finally a question I know the RIGHT answer to! Ok, here goes...
Long ago when you sneezed people thought it was so unnatural and strange, that they started believing that it was the devil trying to enter your body! So we say "Bless you!" to keep them out are harm from the devil! And we still do that to this day! See? I feel so smart! lol! I hope you find the right answer!

Answer 5

In medieval times and before (I think) people believed the devil could harm you or enter you through your sneezes. Some believed your soul tried to leave and said God Bless You to prevent that. Others believed your heart stopped (I think). There are a lot of reasons, but I can't remember them all.

Good question!

Answer 6

I was taught this was said because when you sneezed, it made you open to bad spirits or the Devil. So those around you would protect you by saying "God Bless you." Thus preventing the devil from entering your body/soul.

Answer 7

People used to believe that your soul escaped your body when you sneezed and a quick "bless you" would put your soul back.

Answer 8

I say "God Bless You!" after someone sneezes, because when you sneeze, your heart actually stops! And since their heart started again (obviously), we ask God to bless this person and to not yet take them from us, or end their time on Earth just yet.

Answer 9

because people used to think that if you sneezed your soul could escape your body, and to say bless you would protect you while you soul was out there.

Answer 10

no one knows the origin for sure but I like the explanation I got from my brother...that when the Black Plague was killing millions, a particular sneezing sound was common to those that were about the die...the term "God Bless You" was sort of a "benediction to the nearly departed"!