Etymology of Bless You.

Today, it is common for us to utter the word "God Bless You" or "Bless You" when someone sneeze. It does seem rather strange thing to say. You contort your face, expel mucus, and onlookers wish upon you a blessing from the big man. Very strange indeed!!! They always says curiosity kills the cat and that is what exactly I did. Did some search in the Internet on this topic. There are lots of explanations given for such a simple and often unquestioned practice.

The origin of the this tradition is not entirely clear. The are a number of reasons given. One involves the 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 reason given was base on old medical information. Once upon an unenlightened time, people believed that the heart stopped during a sneeze. A hearty "God bless you" set the ol' ticker back in motion. We know today that this just a myth. Thank God our heart does not stop when we sneeze. Can you imagine how times our heart would have stop when we inhale the hot spicy curry smell.

Interesting, but the most popular theory comes from the Middle Ages. During the bubonic plague, a sneeze was believed to be a sign of impending death. "God bless you" was "a way of commending his soul to the care of God." The phrase may have also come in handy to protect oneself if someone nearby sneezed.

Today, "bless you" is more a sign of good manners than a shield against death. If only folks were as courteous about other involuntary bodily functions

Be Blessed.