Ive heard it was that back in the middle ages and dark ages, when you sneezed it was thought that it was an evil spirit leaving the body, but wanted to know if anyone knew for fact what it was! thanks!
2007-09-28 06:43:43 · 13 answers · asked by Peter Griffin 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
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!
2007-09-28 06:54:29 · answer #1 · answered by didaskalosj 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your correct
well, thats one view.
the guy below me - thats another view
however, the most popular view originates from the era of the bubonic plague in London. Sneezing was the first sign of the dreadful ilness, and people would often say "May God bless you!" if someone sneezed, in the hope that wishing them God's blessing would mean they did not actually develop the plague.
Lol, obviously not the most popular view on this forum, maybe because you asked the question in R&S they are giving you the spiritual answers. or, maybe its cos im from near London. :-) truth is, nobody will ever truely know the source of saying 'God bless you' when someone sneezes, but its very likely one of the three i have mentioned (and these guys below) are true. anyways, good question.
2007-09-28 13:46:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just wishing you health, since when you sneeze, it's a sign that you're sick. In Spanish, they say, "Salud!", meaning "Health!" "Gesundheit!" has the same meaning.
There are a lot of BS theories about what people believed in the Middle Ages. There are even some e-mails making the rounds with entire lists of ridiculous origins of various things that are complete malarky. I would advise you to be skeptical about them until you learn more, which of course is what you're doing in asking this question.
2007-09-28 13:56:58 · answer #3 · answered by Agellius CM 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard the same thing that saying god bless you stops your soul from leaving your body
2007-09-28 13:46:54 · answer #4 · answered by Imagine No Religion 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They use to believe your heart stopped when you sneezed. It's like requesting God to give a jump start.
2007-09-28 13:48:28 · answer #5 · answered by Beavis Christ AM 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats correct... kinda. They thought they when a person sneezed, for that second your heart stops, which gives a demon a second to be able to enter your soul.
2007-09-28 13:47:54 · answer #6 · answered by Mandi Jo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're close, they thought the soul was forced from your body. By saying "God Bless you" they were protecting you from evil forces entering your body while your soul wasn't in residence.
**EDIT** Well, we're both right!
2007-09-28 13:47:20 · answer #7 · answered by pixy_stix 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They used to believe you were open to death or evil when the sneeze was occuring!
2007-09-28 13:47:31 · answer #8 · answered by Premaholic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was because they thought it could make the soul leave the body.
2007-09-28 13:47:30 · answer #9 · answered by mattgo64 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Obviously you don't understand the meaning of the word "etymology".
2007-09-28 13:47:55 · answer #10 · answered by Keltasia 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋