Sneezing

[rjoubert]

It's amazing how many people say "God Bless You" or "Bless You" when someone sneezes. Why are we blessing someone for spreading their germs around? I ask that rhetorically, since I am guilty of saying that myself.

I've heard that people in the old days were fearful that your soul was attempting to escape when you sneezed, and saying "Bless You" would force it back in. Has anyone heard of any other origins?

I'm also curious to know what is said, if anything, across the pond (in European countries) when someone sneezes.

 

[jsteph]

Regarding the Snopes article on the 'rosie' rhyme...while I love that site--and cite that site often--just because Snopes says it doesn't mean it's true.

One could very easily refute each of Snopes' reasons for that not being the source of the rhyme. For instance, to their main assertation that the 'rosie' rhyme wasn't found in print until 1881--I say--"who didn't find it in print?". Just because snopes couldn't find it in print doesn't mean it wasn't there, and just because it may not have been in print doesn't mean that someone in 1881 studying the plague of the 1300's didn't decide to write a morbid rhyme about it.

Anyway, I don't mean to bash Snopes--I do like that site--I just wish remind everyone that they're not necessarily the last word on everything.
--Jim