Sneezing

sneeze

Saying God Bless You When Somebody Sneezes:
When the great plague swept Europe., sufferers began sneezing violently which was a sign of death. The Pope therefore passed a law requiring people to bless the sneezer.

At the same time, it was expected that anybody sneezing would cover their mouth with a cloth or their hand. This was obviously to stop the spreading of the disease, but many believed that it was to keep the soul intact. Sneezing ‘into the air’ would allow the soul to escape and death would be imminent.

Up until this time, before the plague, the opposite was true. Those who sneezed were congratulated, as it was believed that a violent sneeze would expel evil from their bodies.

It’s good luck to sneeze 3 times before breakfast.

If you want to sneeze and can’t, it is a sign some one loves you, and doesn’t dare to tell it.  Boston, Mass.

In India, if a person sneezes around someone who is going on a journey or starting a project, it is bad luck to continue. The person should drink some water and wait for a while before starting again.

If we sneezed during a conversation about sickness or death, we were supposed to pull on our left ear to ward off the evil eye.

Reader Submitted

The heart was believed to momentarily stop during a sneeze (it doesn’t), thus the “Bless you!” was uttered either as a supplication for life to return or as a congratulation upon its successful restart.

~ Bonny F. from Ottawa, IL

The Sneeze Rhyme

Sneeze on Monday, sneeze for danger.
Sneeze on Tuesday, kiss a stranger.
Sneeze on Wednesday, receive a letter.
Sneeze on Thursday, something better.
Sneeze on Friday, sneeze for woe.
Sneeze on Saturday, a journey go.
Sneeze on Sunday your safety seek, for the Devil has you rest of the week.
(Reader Submitted by Sam)

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