Where I come from THREE sneezes in a row is Magic!!! Three sneezes in a row means wishes for the person who sneezed AND all those who blessed them. First, I was shocked that no one wanted a Wish? Then I wondered if even though no one had acknowledged it by blessing me, do I still Get a wish for my 3 sneezes??? I was annoyed.
It's annoying and common place for "God Bless You" to be replaced with "Bless You" or the German word for health "Gezuntite"; but At Least Say Something!!!
Where are people's manners???
Isn't it a simple matter of manners to say "God Bless You"?!!?
It takes little effort & is JUST polite. Right?
Wrong! Saying "God Bless You" isn't JUST polite! Turns out we are Literally blessing the person who sneezed with a safe passage.
The custom of blessing someone after they sneeze began Thousands & Thousands of years ago! Blessing someone after they sneeze was an actual blessing to prevent sickness from plagues in the past. People believed that blessing someone after they sneezed would help shield them against evil. Other people believe that you died for a moment when you sneeze bc it can cause your heart to stop beating. So blessing someone is meant to ensure the return of life and to encourage your heart to continue beating. There were those that believed sneezing could cause your Soul to be thrown from your body. And blessing someone after their sneeze would ensure their Soul would stay put. A sneeze was also believed to open up your body to & help force out unwelcome Devils or Evil Spirits. My favorite discovery was that Buddhists in Tibet believe a sneeze provides a moment of "clear consciousness," when people are opened to greater understanding and clarity.
Today, take advantage of your sneezing! Achu!!! Use these moments to expel Devils or Evil Spirits & make sure to use this time of clarity wisely ;)
When someone else sneezes be polite wish them health and bless them :)
Most importantly put the God back in the Bless You!
Achu!!!
GOD Bless You :)
Nice post. Those people on the train were rude rude rude! If I was there, I would've sent you a "God Bless You." Thanks for sharing the history behind the sneeze! ;)
ReplyDeleteGOD BLESS YOU!
GOD Bless You too! Achu!!!
ReplyDeletePS: There isn't an "agreed upon" word for the sound of a sneeze, so I chose Achu!!! :)
xoxo