Often we heard people say ‘Bless You’ when you sneeze. But, have you ever wonder why? Out of all so many words, why ‘Bless You’?
Let us go back to ancient 14th century when a pope by the name of Pope Gregory VII said that ‘God Bless You’ is a short prayer where it should have been said after somebody sneezed. This is because people back then take this as an indication that they might have caught a plague and may not live long, in which the person who just sneeze needs a blessing.
Source: Pinterest
Some people also believe that this is a way to ask for God’s blessing. People back in the ancient days thought that the human soul leave the body when they sneeze and may cause death unless the God bless him and help to put his soul back into the body. Absurd? Tell us about it!
Other ancient cultures believe that when someone sneezes, they are actually letting evil spirits escape their body and harm others. In this way, the blessing was to make sure the individual who sneezed and those around him are all safe.
Did you know that people from different cultures also makes different sounds when they sneeze? Take a look at the illustration below to know what kind of sneeze you make!
Source: lostininternet
Now that you know the reasons behind, don’t forget to bless your friends whenever they sneeze too!
Header image source: theodysseyonline