God bless you
Bless you is a common English expression addressed to a person after they sneeze. The origin of the custom and its original purpose are unknown. In current practice, it is a socially obligated response.[1]
Origins and legends
Several possible origins are commonly given. The practice of blessing a sneeze, dating as far back as at least 77 AD, however, is far older than most specific explanations can account for.[1]
One explanation holds that the custom originally began as an actual blessing. Gregory I became Pope in 590 as an outbreak of the bubonic plague was reaching Rome. In hopes of fighting off the disease, he ordered unending prayer and parades of chanters through the streets. At the time, sneezing was thought to be an early symptom of the plague. The blessing ("God bless you!") became a common effort to halt the disease.[2]
A variant of the Pope Gregory I story places it with Pope Gregory VII, then tells the common (though untrue) story of "Ring Around the Rosey" being connected to the same plague.[3]
A legend holds that it was believed that the heart stops when you sneeze, and the phrase "bless you" is meant to ensure the return of life or to encourage your heart to continue beating.[4][2][1]
Another version says that people used to believe that your soul can be thrown from your body when you sneeze,[1], that sneezing otherwise opened your body to invasion by the Devil [2] or evil spirits,[4] or that sneezing was your body's effort to force out an invading evil spirit[1]. Thus, "bless you" or "God bless you" is used as a sort of shield against evil.
Alternatively, it may be possible that the phrase began simply as a response for an event that wasn't well understood at the time.[citation needed]
Another belief is that people used to see sneezing as a sign that God would answer your prayers[3] or an omen of good fortune or good luck.[1] In this case, "Bless you" would be in recognition of that luck.
An urban legend states that you cannot open your eyes while you sneeze, or if you manage to your eyes will pop out.[5] The legend was tested by MythBusters who found no ill effects from holding eyes open during a sneeze.[citation needed]
Linguistic Equivalents
In many English-speaking countries, the German equivalent, Gesundheit (which means "good health"), is used after sneezing or coughing.
When Russians hear someone sneezing they immediately say "будь здоров" or "будьте здоровы" which means "be healthy", to which the sneezer will reply "спасибо" which means "thanks".[citation needed] Also, Russian and German superstition has it that if someone sneezes shortly after saying something, it is an affirmative omen in that something that has just been said is correct.[citation needed]
A common Arabic expression, said upon hearing a sneeze, is "الحمدلله" (alhamdu lillah) which means "Praise be to God". In turn the person who sneezed may respond with "رحمك اﷲ" (rahimuk allah) meaning "May God have mercy on you". However, neither of these expressions are traditionally used by Christian Arabs. Another common saying is "صلاح" which means "Health".
In Telugu, one would say Chiranjeeva, which literally translates to live until eternity.
In Tamil, one would say noorais, nooru which is 100 ; aaisu is years ; thereby wishing someone to live a 100 years.[citation needed]
In Romanian, one would say "Noroc" (Good luck) or "Sănătate" (Be healthy), and the reply would be "Mulţumesc" (Thank you) or "Aşa să fie" (So be it).
In Spanish (Most Notably in Latin America and Mexico) "Salud" is used which like in German means "Good Health" Or in literal translation "Health"
In Hebrew, the appropriate response is לבריאות (la-bree-oot) which means "to health".
In French it is customary to say "À vos (tes) souhaits," (Ah-voh-soo-eh) which literally means "To your wishes." At the second sneeze, you then say "À vos (tes) amours" which means "To your loves." If the person sneezes a third time, it is then customary for that person to respond "Et que les vôtres (tiens) durent toujours" which means "and let yours last forever."
In Greek it's "γείτσες" (gitses) literaly meaning 'healths'
In Turkish it is "Çok yaşa" which means "live long".
In Czech it is "Na zdraví" which means "To health".
In Polish it is "Na zdrowie" which means "To health".
In Hungarian one would say "Egészségedre" which means "To your health".
In Chinese one would say nothing but people believe when someone sneeze it represent someone is talking about them behind their backs or missing them.
In Norwegian it is "prosit" from latin "may it do you good". However, it is not as common to say it as in English.
In Denmark it is "prosit" as well, but it is seen as a much more obligatory response.
In Italian, one says "salute," literally meaning "health." A rough translation reads, "Good health."
In Japanese, one says "Odaiji ni"
References
- ^ a b c d e f Snopes Urban Legends - Bless You!
- ^ a b c Straight Dope. Ed Zotti, Editor. Why Do We Say "God Bless You" After a Sneeze? 27 September, 2001.
- ^ a b [1] Mad Scientist posting by Robert West, Post-doc/Fellow
- ^ a b [2] Mad Scientist posting by Tom Wilson, M.D./PhD, Pathology, Div. of Molecular Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine
- ^ Straight Dope. Cecil Adams. If you hold your eyelids open while sneezing, will your eyes pop out? 10July, 1987.
- Opie, Iona, and Moira Tatem. A Dictionary of Superstitions. Oxford University Press; Oxford, 1992. ISBN 0-19-282916-5