A sneeze is an involuntary reaction caused by mild illness, dust or allergens, sunlight, or even strong odors. And during allergy season, there are plenty of sneezes going around.
Most of these sneezes are immediately followed by a “bless you,” or a “gesundheit.” Funny how we’re quick to dole out the blessings even though we’re not ordained or certified to bless anyone. The origins of this custom go back literally thousands of years, and nearly every culture has their own post-sneeze saying.
- Ancient Roman sneezers were told “Salve” — meaning good health.
- “Gesundheit” is German for health.
- Arabic sneezes are often followed by a “Alhamdulillah,” meaning praise be to God.
- In Russia, the traditional response is “bud zdorov” — “be healthy.”
- Children in China will hear “bai sui,” which means “may you live 100 years” according to HowStuffWorks.com.
The exact origin of the post-sneeze “bless you” is unknown. A common theory is that it emerged during the Middle Ages in Europe. Sneezing was seen as an early symptom of bubonic plague, and offering up a blessing was all bystanders could do to comfort the dying.
Other fun explanations:
- A sneeze signified a person’s soul escaping the body through the nose, so a blessing was required to make sure they recaptured it before the devil did.
- On the contrary, a sneeze was a demon spirit escaping the body through the nose, so a blessing was required to protect against re-entry.
- People once believed their heart momentarily stopped beating during a sneeze, so a “bless you” was almost congratulatory, since the person lived through it.
- In some cultures, a sneeze was considered lucky, and sneezers were “blessed” with their good fortune.
The “bless you” tradition lives on, but more out of courtesy or perceived politeness rather than any heartfelt concern for the well-being of the sneezer’s soul.
Sources: HowStuffWorks.com, Snopes.com
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Tags: health
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