Bless You

The origin of the "bless you" tradition is not entirely clear. It comes from the time of the Great Plague. As sneezing was one of the first symptoms, and it was obvious that person would die, "bless you" (or "God bless you") was a suitable thing to say. The saying was originated during the Bubonic plague. The Fact is people have come up with many theories how and why the word “bless you” was originated. Here are some theories. One involves the (hopefully) mistaken belief that a human’s soul might escape through a sneeze. Saying "God bless you" wards off Satan while the soul is temporarily vulnerable. Another story veers toward the medical. Once upon a time, people believed that the heart stopped during a sneeze. A hearty "God bless you" set the ol’ ticker back in motion. Today, "bless you" is more a sign of good manners than a shield against death.