I was just wondering: why do we say "Bless you" (and in response, "Thank you") after someone sneezes?
Bless you?
- Thread starter Relish in Chaos
- Start date
Recommended Videos
I think I read somewhere that it was because in the old days people believed that when you sneezed it ment an evil spirt had left your body. Saying "thank you" is just being polite.
I'm not a hundred percent sure on this but it seems like a viable option.
I'm not a hundred percent sure on this but it seems like a viable option.
Er, as far as I know (Which may or may not be incorrect.)
People use to think that when you sneezed, your soul was trying to escape. So, they said 'bless you', hoping that it would save you. Now, it's just so ingrained we just do it anyhow.
In spanish, you say 'Salud', which means 'health'.
People use to think that when you sneezed, your soul was trying to escape. So, they said 'bless you', hoping that it would save you. Now, it's just so ingrained we just do it anyhow.
In spanish, you say 'Salud', which means 'health'.
Its an old relic from the days when people had little explanation for disease other than devils and other conditions that harmed the spirit. The phrase was taken quite literally back then.
Is it bad that I immediately thought of Dane Cook upon reading the title?
OT: I'm not entirely sure why it started, I've never really thought about it if I'm honest. It's kind of a knee-jerk reaction for me now, and it feels kind of polite.
OT: I'm not entirely sure why it started, I've never really thought about it if I'm honest. It's kind of a knee-jerk reaction for me now, and it feels kind of polite.
It comes from a time when sneezing was considered a sign of illness (in a way, it still is). Comments like "Bless You", "Gesundheit" (Health), and others were just a polite way of saying "Jeez, I hope you are alright and that sneeze doesn't mean you have something terrible".
According to the internet, the first person to say "God Bless You" in regards to sneezing was Pope Gregory the Great, who used it for people with the bubonic plague in the sixth century.
According to the internet, the first person to say "God Bless You" in regards to sneezing was Pope Gregory the Great, who used it for people with the bubonic plague in the sixth century.
I also heard it came from the time of the black plague. When people would sneeze another would say, "bless you" in hopes they wouldn't be getting the plague or something. Or when you say Gazuntite(sp?) it's German for "Good health."
But thw whole spirit thing is what I was told when I was younger. Also your soul leaving your body and saying bless you brings it back.
But thw whole spirit thing is what I was told when I was younger. Also your soul leaving your body and saying bless you brings it back.