This is one of
the most popular superstitions that we have. The reason why it is so popular is
being most people do it, even without realizing it is a superstition. When
someone sneezes another person is suppose to say “ God bless you!”. I never
knew all the posibilities of what this superstition could be.
Although many believe saying bless
you is a polite gesture, it is a very common saying and is practiced all around
the world. It is dated back to Febuary 16 590 AD. Pope Gregory the Great
explained there needed to be prayers for those obtained of the deadly plague in
Italy. It seemed to be fatal for those who sneezed, which meant the sneeze
represented certain illness. Saying God bless you would be a protection from
the disease. Also, in Europe in the year 1665 the black plague was talking over
the population. The last sympton before death was sneezing. Once they realized
sneezing was the end sympton before death the pope made it a law that anyone
who sneezed had to be blessed.(psychiclibary)
Others believed that the soul was
located inside the head, which meant when someone sneezed it was a sign that
the soul was giving them an omen. People interpreted this as a lucky omen. The Greeks,
Romans and Egyptian believed that a sneeze was a kind of “ internal oracle”
which warned them of times of danger and foretold future of good or evil. They also
believed sneezing to the right was considered lucky, to the left was unlucky.
If I can remember I have always sneezed to the left, maybe if I started to
force myself to sneeze to the right things around me would be different. I mean
who knows, I sneeze to the right and I have prince charming there waiting for
me.(unexplainedstuff.com)
Another old Flemish belief is pretty
interesting. If someone sneezed during a conversation porved the truth of a
remark. In England during the seventeeth century, when people sneezed it was
manditory for people to remove their hats, bow and shout, “ God bless you!” .
Then is the nineteenth-century someone originated a rhyme:Sneeze on Monday, sneeze for danger. Sneeze on Tuesday, kiss a stranger. Sneeze on Wednesday, sneeze for a letter. Sneeze on Thursday, something better. Sneeze on Friday, sneeze for woe. Sneeze on Saturday, a journey to go. Sneeze on Sunday, your safety seek—for Satan will have you for the rest of the week!
http://www.unexplainedstuff.com/Superstitions-Strange-Customs-Taboos-and-Urban-Legends/Superstitions-Sneezing.html
Wow! I never knew there were so many superstitions about saying "God Bless You" when someone sneezes, but I always wondered why we said it. We always carry on traditions without even knowing the true meaning behind it. It's funny how three simple words can have such history. Thanks for informing me Rachelle!
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for informing me about the superstitions of the saying god blesses you when you sneeze. I have a little confession to say, when someone sneeze around me I only say Bless you, so what I’m wondering does that still work, or does that means when I said that the people were not protected from the disease. If not then I always can change my ways, thank you again. Now next times sneeze I will know what to say and then they will be saved.
I have always just said bless you too, i found it was to show respect to the other person. I am excited to see my blog has made you reflect in the saying a bit. It is all just superstition, i would explain them to be like rumours now a days. We will never really know the full truth. Beeing blessed by God is not as important to stay alive now considering we dont see the plague disease as much. But if you want to bless a friend after sneezing helping them by keeping disease away, might as well say God bless you!
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting! I never knew that the term God bless you actually came from a superstition. I was simply taught from a young age that it was the polite thing to do. One of my friends must be really superstitious however, because she always gets angry when people don't say bless you to her. Either superstitious or really self centred! Haha.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff throughout your blog.
ReplyDeleteRemember to go over the blog before posting it to catch little mistakes. (ex. "porved" in this blog). + Don't forget to give your own opinion,comment or anecdote after you explain the superstition.
I found it pretty interesting too! I never realized the stories about the saying, i thought it was just some simple sayign someone started just for the fun of it. Although I have realized that superstitions are way more then that. Thank you M. Noecker for the feedback, i will be applying this in my next blogs!
ReplyDelete