But why do we say “bless you” when someone sneezes? There are many theories about the origins of the phrase “bless you,” but most theories circle back to the idea of superstition. Google states that superstition is the “excessively credulous belief in and reverence for supernatural beings.” One of the most popular ideas dates back to the time of the bubonic plague. Since one of the main symptoms of this illness was sneezing, Pope Gregory I believed that saying “God bless you” as a tiny prayer after someone sneezed would shield them from death.
Another theory comes from an ancient belief that sneezing may actually free the spirit from the body. Unless, of course, God blessed you and prevented this from happening. Some even believed that the spirits that left the body were only evil, so if they were expelled from the body, the evil spirits would be free to roam with everyone else.
In addition to saying “bless you,” you may hear the word “gesundheit” being thrown around. “Gesundheit” is actually the German word for “health.” The word was formed as a combination of the word “gesund” meaning “healthy” and “-heit” meaning “-hood.” After a sneeze, offering that person good health was believed to hold off any illness that may come. Since many immigrants to Canada came from Germany, plus Canadian soldiers fighting two World Wars in Germany, it makes sense why this word has been seamlessly woven into our vocabulary.
