Minis On The Edge Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 Why do people say "God Bless You" when someone sneezes? what is the Origin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 In ancient times people believed the soul could leave the body pretty much at will (probably because of the high mortality & short life expectancy), especially when someone slept or sneezed; "God bless you" was literally blessing the person in case his soul didn't come back. (I read this so long ago I don't even remember where; Frazier's The Golden Bough , maybe?) This may also be where bedtime prayers originated. In a similar vein, "spirit" comes from the same Latin root word as "breathe" (respire). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiniMadWoman Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 That's pretty much what I know about it too. When a person sneezed it literally blew the soul out of the body (via the mouth) and so a blessing was bestowed on that person to bring back the soul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annamommynous Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 Saying "Gesundheit!" when someone sneezes is slightly less mystical but still superstitiousl. The equivalent of yelling "Health!!" at the sneezer and any possible germs contained within. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minis On The Edge Posted September 15, 2005 Author Share Posted September 15, 2005 Great Answers and they are all correct!! For Centuries Man believed there life essence or Soul resided in the head. When a person sneezed, they thought the soul was trying to escape so they said "God Bless you" so that it woud return to the person before an evil spirit (or demon) entered there body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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