How/why did saying things like bless you or gesundheit start? And when?
I don’t know, but I wish it’d stop.
I use the German word Gesundheit. It means health. I will offer it for most audible bodily functions, though, not just sneezes.
That’s funny.
I use it for all of those, but also if someone uses or words I don’t understand or if they bite their tongue or anything similar. I successfully managed to confuse a lot of people doing that and it brings me great joy.
It’s hard to say when it began, but it’s a nearly worldwide tradition. Check out this page of different salutations:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Response_to_sneezing
My belief is that it’s generally because sneezing in a sign of illness, and illness tended to be more dangerous centuries ago, before antibiotics and when many people had less access to nutrition, consistent heating, sanitation and so forth.You can say “Godzilla” if you want to
It’s because the demons fly out of you when you sneeze, and you need to be blessed to prevent them from getting back in, or so they thought back in Black Plague days.
Also those are the only two I actually know, so I’d love to learn others
@Wollang Yarhamkallah.
