The practice of saying “God Bless You” when someone sneezes goes back to the middle ages when people believed that the soul left the body at the moment of sneezing. It was intended as a benediction to keep the devil from seizing it at that vulnerable moment.
This concludes today’s trivia lesson. You may now go about your business.
I don’t say anything when someone sneezes. Why would we acknowledge someone’s sneezing when we don’t acknowledge other bodily noises, like farting or burping?
So what if at work, no one sneezes, and out of the blue someone says “God bless you”. Is it still polite or do you work with Red Skelton? (Good night and may God bless.)
DanFlak over 5 years ago
Is it politically correct to say “God Bless You” to an atheist when he sneezes?
DanFlak over 5 years ago
The practice of saying “God Bless You” when someone sneezes goes back to the middle ages when people believed that the soul left the body at the moment of sneezing. It was intended as a benediction to keep the devil from seizing it at that vulnerable moment.
This concludes today’s trivia lesson. You may now go about your business.
sandpiper over 5 years ago
@danflak: allergy season must have been really trying for folks in the middle ages.
CrouchingBruin over 5 years ago
I don’t say anything when someone sneezes. Why would we acknowledge someone’s sneezing when we don’t acknowledge other bodily noises, like farting or burping?
cuzinron47 over 5 years ago
You do seem to bless a lot.
Jeff0811 over 5 years ago
So what if at work, no one sneezes, and out of the blue someone says “God bless you”. Is it still polite or do you work with Red Skelton? (Good night and may God bless.)
parkerinthehouse over 5 years ago
God bless you! I just got it.