ACHOOO
A sneeze, a sudden involuntary expulsion of air from the nose and mouth due to irritation of the nostrils. Perhaps however it's your heart stopping, maybe demons? We now know that sneezing is a natural yet involuntary act caused by a tickle in the nose, but that was not always the case. Superstition has plagued sneezing and many cultures have formed ways to protect themselves from the “evil” that comes with them. Small phrases became common to ward off demons and save the souls of those sneezing.
In many English societies, when a person sneezes in public it is often followed by a chorus of “God bless you.” Yet no one says anything when someone coughs, burps, or hiccups, so why do sneezes get blessed? Some people even get offended if they do not get blessed following a sneeze. But where does this phrase really originate from and why is it still used today?
This phrase has become a ritual in many societies. It began with the belief that a sneeze is your body trying to rid it of evil spirits. The people of the time also believed that the heart stops beating when a person sneezes. They believed that saying "God bless you," was a form of protection from the "evil spirits" and a good luck charm.
Apparently people believed the devil could steal your soul when you sneezed. Pope Gregory plays a major role in why we bless those who sneeze. He became pope after the man before him died from the plague in 590. He was rumored to say "God bless you." when someone sneezed. Hoping those who blessed would be able to live longer. The phrase was known to be said during the time of the plague. Pope Gregory commanded that the people of Italy in 590 AD to help protect those who sneeze from getting the plague.
There was a belief held by many that the heart stopped when you sneezed, and that saying this phrase was a way to combat the fact that you died, and magically bring you back to life.
"Who needs medical intervention when you can just say a quick phrase to make someone well?"
There are many other cultures that have a similar practice for after they sneeze. They all believed that a sneeze was a sign of ill health, so these four phrases were formed. The Spanish say "Salud," Germans say "Gesundheit," Irish say "Sláinte," and Bengali say "Jeebo." However unlike the English version, these phrases are used elsewhere to wish good health on those who seemed ill.
When a person sneezes we understand its polite to respond with "God bless you." Although many do not believe that the heart stops, or that demons are trying to capture the soul of the person who sneezed, we still use this phrase today. It has become ingrained in our day to day life, and has been passed down through generations. The phrase has become a natural response.
