sayings

[m3gan]

does anyone know why we say "bless you" and/or "bless me" when we sneeze

 

thanks

[Grunty]

I believe ancient people thought you were weaker immediately after a sneeze, and this could allow the Devil, or evil spirits (whichever you believe in) to get into your body.  Bless you is a prayer to your God to protect you.

[ratbag66]

It goes back to the days of the Black Death, a sneeze was one of the first symptoms of the plague and anyone who went down with this dreadful disease would need God's blessing.

The song 'ring-a-ring-o-roses' is about the same subject - hence the line 'atishoo, atishoo we all fall down', a reference to dying from the plague.

[IndieSinger]

ratbag66 - the Black Death theory is only one of many. No-one can be sure which theory is true, but there is a good list of them here.

[StarskyH]

Please also check the other answers to this question, I'm with Waldo McFroog on this. As far as I'm aware it originated from the belief that the devil resides on your left shoulder at that sneezing was a point of weakness at which the devil could enter. Thus the saying God bless you or simply bless you would afford you protection.