“Bless you”

  Whenever someone sneezes, you say “Bless you” or hear someone else say     these words.

Why? Why are these words spoken?

These words are spoken because many people had superstitions. Some people thought that a sneeze caused the soul to escape from their nose. If they said bless you it would impede the devil from getting the freed soul. Other people thought the opposite. They believed that when you sneeze evil spirits would enter the person’s body. Some people thought that the heart temporarily stops during a sneeze and by saying bless you it will welcome the person back.

When? When did this saying originate?

This saying originated thousands of years ago. It was originated in the six century.

How? How did this saying originate?

 This saying originated by Pope Gregory the great. He uttered it in the sixth century during the bubonic plague epidemic. The first signs of the bubonic plague were a sneeze so saying “Bless you” you was a version of last rites. It means to stay alive and live long.

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