Do you say "God Bless You" to someone who sneezes?

[Jenson71]

I don't.

In New Jersey, people will hear someone sneeze in an entirely different room and say it. Why? No one in Iowa does that.

Poll to come. Sorry if repost.

[BigCatDaddy]

I say "You're soooooo good lookin" when someone sneezes.

[MikeMaslowski]

I say a little hybrid.... it sounds more like "Bleshew"...

[Donger]

It's to keep the demons you just snorted out from re-entering your body. I thought that was common knowledge.

[unothadeal]

Originally Posted by MikeMaslowski

I say a little hybrid.... it sounds more like "Bleshew"...

That's the sound I make when I sneeze. So you should say "Bleshew, too."

[KC Dan]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I say "Your soooooo Good Lookin" when someone sneezes.

Excellent Seinfeld quote usage.

[KCChiefsMan]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I say "Your soooooo Good Lookin" when someone sneezes.

beat me to it

[Katipan]

Originally Posted by Donger

It's to keep the demons you just snorted out from re-entering your body. I thought that was common knowledge.

I thought it was because they used to think your heart stopped when you sneezed?...

[Fish]

Sneeze on Monday for health,
Sneeze on Tuesday for wealth,
Sneeze on Wednesday for a letter,
Sneeze on Thursday for something better,
Sneeze on Friday for sorrow,
Sneeze on Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow,
Sneeze on Sunday, safety seek.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Katipan

I thought it was because they used to think your heart stopped when you sneezed?...

It seems there are a variety of possible origins:

Several possible origins are commonly given. The practice of blessing a sneeze, dating as far back as at least 77 AD, however, is far older than most specific explanations can account for.[1]

A legend holds that it was believed 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.[2][3][1]

One explanation holds that the custom originally began as an actual blessing. Gregory I became Pope in 590 as an outbreak of the bubonic plague was reaching Rome. In hopes of fighting off the disease, he ordered unending prayer and parades of chanters through the streets. At the time, sneezing was thought to be an early symptom of the plague. The blessing ("God bless you!") became a common effort to halt the disease.[3]

A variant of the Pope Gregory I story places it with Pope Gregory VII, then tells the common (though untrue) story of "Ring Around the Rosey" being connected to the same plague.[4]

Another version says that people used to believe that your soul can be thrown from your body when you sneeze,[1] that sneezing otherwise opened your body to invasion by the Devil[3] or evil spirits,[2] or that sneezing was your body's effort to force out an invading evil spirit.[1] Thus, "bless you" or "God bless you" is used as a sort of shield against evil.

Alternatively, it may be possible that the phrase began simply as a response for an event that was not well understood at the time.[1]

Another belief is that people used to see sneezing as a sign that God would answer your prayers[4] or an omen of good fortune or good luck.[1] In this case, "Bless you" would be in recognition of that luck.

Tibetan Buddhists believe a sneeze (like meditation, falling asleep, preparing to die) can provide a moment of "clear consciousness," when people are opened to greater understanding.[5]

Some believe that sneezing is the leading cause of the common cold. By saying, "Bless you", your cold will go away.

[Demonpenz]

if you don't you have a greater risk for swine flu

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Katipan

I thought it was because they used to think your heart stopped when you sneezed?...

That's sort of a myth...

It actually started in Europe during the time of the plague.... and when you sneezed, you were supposedly expelling the soul(or evil demons/plague), and saying "God bless you" was a way of "saving" you from the plague.

[MikeMaslowski]

Originally Posted by unothadeal

That's the sound I make when I sneeze. So you should say "Bleshew, too."

Next time we hang out I will remember to say it....


rep on the avatar....those were the days

[Gonzo]

When you sneeze, god kicks a puppy. fyi
Posted via Mobile Device

[Katipan]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

That's sort of a myth...

It actually started in Europe during the time of the plague.... and when you sneezed, you were supposedly expelling the soul(or evil demons/plague), and saying "God bless you" was a way of "saving" you from the plague.

Wiki says the phrase was "Bless you" and I could totally see the little pagan nudist druids saying that before the Christian God was invented.