The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Sneezing

Does anyone say "God bless you" or "bless you" when someone sneezes? I've thought about this and have come to the conclusion that it's superstition that has evolved into common courtesy. Also, if you think about it, nobody says it when someone coughs, blows their nose, etc.

My wife thinks I'm making a big deal out of it. What think ye?

I think for most it is just a habit. They say it from habit without thinking about why they say it or how the saying started.

Are you Catholic? Kyrie Eleison <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/giggle.gif" alt="" />

It is believed by some that saying "God bless you" after a sneeze was literally a blessing in the RCC. In addition, Pope Gregory the Great came into the Papacy after the beginning of the plague (his successor died of it). Because of the plague, Gregory called for prayer for God's help. Many marched through the streets chanting, Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy). When someone sneezed, they were immediately blessed (God bless you) in the hope that they would not subsequently develop the plague. Why? Because it was believed “by some” that this would prevent the escape of the soul from the body, which was thought to occur with a sneeze (soullessness was believed to cause ill health <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/Eeeeeek.gif" alt="" />).

PS: There are several theories regarding the beginning of this custom. The earliest usage I could find was: Apuleius, Golden Ass, AD 150.

Dear David,

This question always seems to come up while teaching Heidelberg Catechism #99 re the Third Commandment, specifically:


(or as my pastor paraphrases, "use God's name only when speaking to Him or about Him)

I normally say that if, when someone sneezes, our thought, even briefly, is running along the lines of:

"wow--he might be dangerously sick--I should pray for him--Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, apart from whose will not a sparrow can fall to the ground, if it be according to your good pleasure, bless him with healing and restoration and preservation (and if an unbeliever: to lead him to saving faith), for the praise of your glorious grace in Christ Jesus"

then, by all means, feel free to say "God bless you".

But if we are about to speak the words automatically,

"just because that's what you're supposed to say when someone sneezes"

then it would be better to say something like:

"that's some cold you've got!" or
"want a tissue?" or
"please cover your mouth next time!"

Dave,

Today people who say "God bless you" after you sneeze probably know very little about the history of why people do this. I think it's become either just a habit or custom with little thought.

In English-speaking countries, it is common for at least one person to say "Bless you" after someone sneezes. The traditional explanation for the custom is that it began literally as a blessing. Pope Gregory I the Great (540-604 AD) ascended to the Papacy just in time for the start of the plague in 590 AD (his successor succumbed to it). To combat the plague Gregory ordered litanies, processions and unceasing prayer for God's intercession. When someone sneezed, they were immediately blessed ("God bless you!") in the hope that they would not subsequently develop the plague.

This custom persists among speakers of many languages. Common social responses to sneezes in English include "Bless you" and "Gesundheit" (German, "[Good] health [to you]").


Wes