Why do people say bless you?

The most popular theory is that it originated in Rome when the bubonic plague was ravaging Europe. Sneezing was one the plague's main symptoms, and it is believed that Pope Gregory I suggested that a tiny prayer in the form of saying, "God bless you" after a sneeze would protect the person from death.

Why shouldn't you say Bless you?

Please stop acknowledging my bodily functions. "Bless you" is a phrase so reflexively spoken upon hearing a sneeze that many of us forgot or don't even know where it came from. It has obvious religious connotations but they're archaic and no longer make any sense in our modern-day world.

Why do we only say bless u when someone sneezes?

Well, for starters, one of the most popular ideas dates back to the time of the bubonic plague. Since one of the main symptoms of this illness was sneezing, Pope Gregory I believed that saying “God bless you” as a tiny prayer after someone sneezed would shield them from death.

How do you respond to bless you?

EXPLANATION: When someone sneezes in the United States, more often than not someone else says “Bless you!” The phrase first originated as “God bless you.” PROPER RESPONSE: “Thank you!”

Is it true that your heart stops when you sneeze?

When you sneeze, the intrathoracic pressure in your body momentarily increases. This will decrease the blood flow back to the heart. The heart compensates for this by changing its regular heart beat momentarily to adjust. However, the electrical activity of the heart does not stop during the sneeze.

Why Do People Say Bless You When You Sneeze

Is it weird to say bless you?

“Saying 'God bless you' following a sneeze is a common refrain, so common and taught from childhood that many people don't even think of it as a blessing, but rather as an utterance without specific meaning other than a response to a sneeze that is polite in some way,” said Dr.

Is it manners to say bless you?

Saying “bless you” was believed to help keep it in you. Alternatively a sneeze was the body's way of expelling a demon and saying that phrase would shield you from the evil. Whatever the origin, nowadays it is polite to say “bless you” when someone sneezes, just like saying “thank you” or “please”.

Do other cultures say bless you?

In English-speaking countries, the common verbal response to another person's sneeze is "[god] bless you", or, less commonly in the United States and Canada, "Gesundheit", the German word for health (and the response to sneezing in German-speaking countries).

Do they say bless you in Australia?

Australians don't blow their nose in the street

"Many people will also say 'bless you' when you sneeze. This phrase has no religious intent."

What do you say when someone sneezes in China?

So what should you say in Chinese when someone sneezes (打喷嚏 dǎ pēntì)? The simple answer is nothing! In English-speaking countries, it is both common and polite to say “bless you” when someone else sneezes. Chinese speakers, on the other hand, don't often acknowledge other people's sneezes.

In what country is sneezing considered rude?

“It is not customary to respond to sneezes in China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, and India.

What does Aww bless you mean?

You admit it's when someone says something adorable though, like if a guy (this is what I saw in another thread) who said about his first love when he was in year 11. Just got an 'aww bless you'

Do British say bless you?

God bless you

This is what a Brit might say to you after you sneeze. They might even pass you a hankie too, if you're lucky. Not to be confused with: 'Count your blessings', meaning that you should be grateful for what you have.

Why don't we say God bless you when someone coughs?

In English it is polite to say "bless you" when someone sneezes. If someone coughs then people do not tend to say anything. I hope that this helps! In the US, if someone sneezes we say "bless you" or "God bless you." Some people say "Gesundheit," a German word, but this is now rather rare.

What do Korean people say when you sneeze?

If you tell a Korean " Who talks about you(누가 너 말 한다)" when someone sneeze , you will be surely considered a native speaker.

What to say after sneezing sorry or excuse me?

You can say sorry for sneezing but you usually don't, because there is nothing morally wrong with sneezing. There's no real need to apologize. You should say "excuse me." Asking "permission" (even after the fact) is a polite thing to do. It's similar to asking for the right to e.g. leave the room to go to the bathroom.

What do you say in Spanish when someone dies?

The most common ones to offer condolences in Spanish are siento, lamento, and disculpa when using “sorry.” Lo siento./ Lo lamento. / Discúlpame. I'm sorry. Él/ella lo siente.

What does its bless mean in slang?

/bles/ /bles/ (British English, sometimes humorous) ​used to show warm feelings for somebody because of something they have done.

When people say bless him?

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English bless (him/her etc)spoken used to show that you are fond of someone, amused by them, or pleased by something they have done He's always willing to help. Bless him!

What do Southerners mean when they say bless your heart?

"Bless your heart" is a phrase that is common in the Southern United States. The phrase has multiple meanings. It may be used to express genuine sympathy or as a precursor to an insult to soften the blow.

What do Hawaiians say after a sneeze?

In Hawaii, they say “kihe a mauli ola” which means “sneeze and live”. In Islam, it's believed that sneezing lightens the mind, and Allah should be praised. The Ancient Greeks and Romans responded with “Jupiter preserve you”. This is one of our favourites.

What do Africans say when someone sneezes?

A form of gesundheit, “Gesondheid” is what people in South Africa say after someone sneezes. “This is how we wish someone health, in Afrikaans,” explains travel blogger and founder of Flight Factory, Gerrard Hattfield.

How do you respectfully sneeze?

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw used tissues in the trash. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands.

What do Japanese say after sneezing?

I'd ask, “What do you say in Japanese when people sneeze?” Occasionally I'd hear “odaiji ni” as an option. So I said “odaiji ni” to anyone I caught sneezing. In truth, no one in Japan says a word in response to an “atchoo!” (or “hakushun!”).