Why do we say "god bless you" ????

[big joe 1212]

after someone sneezes?

when did this start and why?

I feel it's ridiculous!

Why should god bless someone for sneezing?

People at work sneeze all day long and it seems I have to say it 20 times a day. If I don't say it, I would feel like I'm being rude.

thoughts?

[Mikail]

People used to believe that when one sneezed evil spirits would leave the body. Hence 'god bless you' because the evil was expelled from the body.

[kaliboyz]

the truth is : when you sneeze, you stop breathing and your body stop for that one second (don't believe me? try to catch yourself when you sneeze) so people around you asking god to give your life back..."god bless you"

[aggieshawn]

People used to believe that when one sneezed evil spirits would leave the body. Hence 'god bless you' because the evil was expelled from the body.

True - or they could also enter the body. But this is the reason.

[babyjesus]

People used to believe that when one sneezed evil spirits would leave the body. Hence 'god bless you' because the evil was expelled from the body.

indeed sir

[Dutch]

I don't say it and my girlfriend thinks it's weird that I don't. I hate when i sneeze and someone says it and then I feel like I have to say thank you. "Thank you for blessing me when an irritant entered my nose. Fuk off."

People don't say it when you cough or fart, so why bother saying it when someone sneezes.

[Yich123]

it should be changed to: "you are soooooo good looking"
seinfeld joke if no one watches :S

[Lookingtostart]

Explanation that I heard was when people used to sneeze "back when", it was a sign of death since that person was going to die of some disease. So they'd say god bless in advance.