why do people say "Bless you!" when u sneeze?

Question

why do people say "Bless you!" when u sneeze?

Answer 1

It's mean god bless you

Answer 2

A lot of cultures seem to have this sneezing thing...



I think my friend is right that in some cultures it had to do with danger

to the soul --- but the concern from what I understand is that sneezing

caused the body to be unprotected so that evil spirits/demons could enter.



It is my understanding as well, that people believed that your heart stopped

when you sneezed, giving Satan a chance to enter. Therefore, "bless you"

was offered as a protection.people say "Bless you!" for short of "God Bless you!" and when you sneeze your heart skips a beat for a split second. that's why we say "Bless You!"



but some just say it because we are used to hearing and saying it and it's just a proper thing to do.

Answer 3

I read somewhere that years ago when a person sneezed others around them would say God Bless You to keep the sneezer from loosing their soul.Things were not as understood as today. I believe in God, but don't think anyone will loose their soul due to a sneeze,just my opinion.

Answer 4

* The heart stops when you sneeze (it doesn't), and the phrase bless you was meant to ensure the return of life or to encourage your heart to continue beating.

* A sneeze is the expulsion of some sort of evil, and the phrase was meant to ward off the evil's re-entry.

* 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 was used as a sort of shield against evil.

* A sneeze is good luck, and saying "bless you" was no more than recognition of the sneezer's luckiness.

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I had never heard of it being used to refer to the Bubonic plague. Interesting...

Answer 5

It's true, in the Middle Ages people believed you would sneeze out part of soul. If you said bless you, a person could retain that part of their soul.

Answer 6

I'm not sure, I just know that sometimes my dad sneezes and it sounds like he says bless you! Maybe someone did that along time ago and someone told him "bless you to brother!"

Answer 7

from the time of the Bubonic Plague in England (ca. 1665 - 66) a side affect of having plague was sneezing, if you had it you will surely die. People said "Bless you" as they knew you would die in a few days time.



Also identified in the nursey rhyme "Ring, a ring of roses, A pocket full of poses (thought to keep plague away), A-tissue, A-tissue we all fall down" (dead!)

Answer 8

It was once believed that you were in danger of losing your soul from sneezing.

Answer 9

I always heard it was b/c it made your heart skip a beat and you are "blessing" that person!!