God Bless
What is the origin for everytime someone sneezes you tell them “God bless you” or “Bless you”?
I was just wondering who came up with the idea of saying “God bless you everytime someone sneezes.
Thanx 4 ur answers!
Several possible origins are commonly given. The practice of blessing a sneeze, dating as far back as at least 77 AD, however, is far older than most specific explanations can account for.
A legend holds that it was believed that the heart stops when you sneeze, and the phrase “bless you” is meant to ensure the return of life or to encourage your heart to continue beating.
One explanation holds that the custom originally began as an actual blessing. Gregory I became Pope in 590 as an outbreak of the bubonic plague was reaching Rome. In hopes of fighting off the disease, he ordered unending prayer and parades of chanters through the streets. At the time, sneezing was thought to be an early symptom of the plague. The blessing (“God bless you!”) became a common effort to halt the disease.
A variant of the Pope Gregory I story places it with Pope Gregory VII, then tells the common (though untrue) story of “Ring Around the Rosey” being connected to the same plague.
Another version says that people used to believe that your soul can be thrown from your body when you sneeze, that sneezing otherwise opened your body to invasion by the Devil or evil spirits, or that sneezing was your body’s effort to force out an invading evil spirit. Thus, “bless you” or “God bless you” is used as a sort of shield against evil.
Alternatively, it may be possible that the phrase began simply as a response for an event that was not well understood at the time.
Another belief is that people used to see sneezing as a sign that God would answer your prayers or an omen of good fortune or good luck. In this case, “Bless you” would be in recognition of that luck.
Tibetan Buddhists believe a sneeze (like meditation, falling asleep, preparing to die) can provide a moment of “clear consciousness,” when people are opened to greater understanding.
God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood
| | NWT Baby Gund God Bless Baby Glory Ivory Cream Bear Style # 58417 15″ $44.99 |
| | Baby Gund God Bless Baby Glory 58417 New NWT Ivory Cream Yellow Neutral Lovey 15 $40.00 |
| | NWT Blue GUND Snuggle Security Blanket GOD BLESS BABY Teddy Bear LOVEY Boys $39.99 |
| | NEW w/ tag Baby Gund Blue Bear Plush God Bless Soft Toy 58412 Lovey Teddy Boy $39.99 |
| | NEW Baby Gund God Bless Blue Plush Bear Musical Lovey $35.99 |
| | Baby Gund God Bless Musical Moving Teddy Bear 58424 $34.99 |
| | Gund God Bless Baby Pink Angel Doll Lovey Rattle 8″ 58040 Blessings Bobble $29.98 |
| | Gund God Bless Baby BEAR Security Blanket Lovey 58431 $24.99 |
| | Cream Lamb Green God Bless Baby Gund Target Lovey Plush $24.99 |
| | Gund Soft Blue Boy Doll God Bless Baby 60512 Heaven’s $24.99 |
| | New Adorable AMSCAN BABY Plush Soft 12″ White Satin GOD BLESS BABY First Doll $24.99 |
| | Gund God Bless Baby Cream Bear Plush Lovey 5838 EUC * $24.99 |
| | New Russ Blue Bear God Bless Our Little One Rattle $24.99 |
| | Kelli’s Gund Cream & Tan God Bless Baby Lamb Sheep Plush Toy Pink Collar Lovey $24.99 |
| | God Bless Baby GUND GLORY 58417 Plush Cream Ivory Teddy Bear Stuffed Toy 16″ EUC $24.61 |
| | GUND Plush Doll Heaven’s Blessings God Bless Baby Girl’s Pink White Velour 60511 $22.95 |
| | GUND 15″ Plush GOD BLESS BABY Yellow GLORY Teddy BEAR 58417 Stuffed EC Off White $21.83 |
| | Carters Just One Year Frog Gund God Bless Baby Boy Blue Blankie Plush Toy Rattle $21.59 |
| | NWT Aurora Baby GOD BLESS BOY Blue PLUSH BEAR Lovey 13″ $21.50 |
| | Pink God Bless Baby Plush Bear Teddy Girls Nursery14″ 9P31 Embroidered $20.97 |
| | Mary Meyer Baby Blanket Sheep God Bless Baby Lovey NWT $19.99 |
| | Mary Meyer Baby Blanket Sheep God Bless Baby Lovey NWT $19.99 |
| | Gund Soft Doll God Bless Baby Heaven’s Blue Boy 60512 $19.99 |
| | Lot 4 Baby Plush Gund “God Bless” Nighty Night Musical Teddy Bear Dan Dee Lamb $19.99 |
| | Baby Gund God Bless Baby Tiny Glory Ivory Plush BEAR $19.99 |
| | AURORA BABY PLUSH PINK BEAR GOD BLESS BOW NEW 15″ PLAID $19.99 |
| | NWT Baby Gund Pink Bear God Bless Baby 14″ Faith 58415 Girls Plush Stuffed $19.99 |
| | Baby Gund Praise Bear God Bless Baby plush blue first $19.99 |
| | Baby Ganz God Bless Baby Angel Plush with Rattle, 10″ $19.99 |
| | NEW Aurora pink plush Baby Bear GOD BLESS w/tags A1 $19.98 |
| | Gund God Bless Baby Pink Praying Talking Doll Lovey 58770 Now I Lay Me $19.98 |
| | 16″ Yellow GOD BLESS BABY Teddy Bear Lovey BABY GUND 5838 Soft Stuffed Animal $19.97 |
| | Gund GOD BLESS BABY Blue Bear Musical Plush Lullaby 13″ Lovey Soft Stuffed Toy $19.97 |
| | Baby Gund Plush Bundle of Blessings Angel Rattle God Bless Pink Blonde 59040 $19.97 |
| | Gund God Bless Baby 5801 Blue Angel Soft Doll Lovey $19.95 |
| | BUNDLE of BLESSINGS BLUE BABY BOY “GOD BLESS BABY” GUND $19.79 |
| | Gund by Target God Bless Baby Plush Cream Lamb $19.54 |
| | Gund 8″ Plush God Bless Baby Teddy Bear Lovey 58416 $18.99 |
| | Baby Gund God Bless Baby Faith Pink 14″ Bear Plush Stuffed Animal Toy 58415 $18.99 |
| | Gund God Bless Baby Glory 15″ cream plush teddy bear toy yellow ribbon 58417 $18.99 |
| | Gund Blue God Bless Baby Plush Angel Teddy Bear 5803 $18.99 |
| | Baby Gund Blue God Bless Tiny Praise Teddy Bear 58412 $18.99 |
| | Adorable Baby GUND Pink GOD BLESS BABY 15″ Teddy Bear Lovey FAITH 58415 Gift EUC $18.95 |
| | NWT Yellow Angel Rattle GOD BLESS BABY Star Plush Lovey $18.95 |
| | NWT Baby Gund Plush Pink God Bless Baby Bear Angel Lovey Toy 10″ Tall $17.99 |
| | Gund GOD BLESS BABY Angel Teddy Bear CREAM GOLD Lovey $17.95 |
| | BABY GUND plush PINK “GOD BLESS BABY” BEAR #58415 SIZE: 15 INCH $17.09 |
| | Baby Gund God Bless Baby 58769 Plush Doll Lovey 8″ $16.99 |
| | BABY GUND 58417 “God Bless Baby Glory” Cream Stuffed Animal Plush Teddy Bear $16.99 |
| | Gund Baby Blue God Bless Baby Bear Praise 58413 Plush 14″ $16.63 |
| | Baby Gund blue plush God Bless Baby Satin wings Heart Y $15.99 |
| | Aurora Baby Pull Down Musical God Bless Blue Bear & Flower Crib Toy $15.99 |
| | Baby Gund Blue Tiny Praise God Bless Baby Teddy Bear 58412 Boy Lovey Lovie Plush $15.99 |
| | Baby Gund GOD BLESS BABY BLUE ANGEL 4″ Stuffed Animal $15.50 |
| | Baby Gund “GOD BLESS BABY” PINK TEDDY BEAR Plush Toy $15.50 |
| | GUND Plush GOD BLESS BABY TINY PRAISE Blue BEAR 58412 Stuffed Teddy $15.46 |
| | BABY GUND plush BLUE GOD BLESS BABY TINY PRAISE ITEM #58412 SIZE:9 INCH $15.29 |
| | Gund God Bless Baby Cross Blue Boy Doll Plush 60512 $15.29 |
| | PINK Baby Gund GOD BLESS BABY Bear Musical Moving Plush $14.99 |
| | RUSS BABY BEAR- GOD BLESS OUR LITTLE ONE PINK EX. COND $14.99 |
| | GUND 58423 ♥ God BLESS BABY Melody Moves PINK Soft TOY Cute TEDDY BEAR 12″ $14.99 |
| | BABY GUND green GOD BLESS BABY ANGEL rattle plush lovey # 4917 $14.99 |
| | Baby Gund Blue 7″ God Bless Baby Musical Bear 58427 NWT $14.99 |
| | GUND 5802 ♥ God BLESS BABY Pink TEDDY BEAR Angel WINGS ♥ 10″ $14.99 |
| | Pink “God Bless Baby” Angel Plush Doll ** Baby’s 1st Angel Doll ** 100% SAFE $14.95 |
| | Baby Gund God Bless Baby Pink Plush Doll 5676 Rattle $14.95 |
| | BABY GUND BLUE 58413 13″ Plush GOD BLESS BABY Teddy Bear Lovey $14.95 |
| | NWT Gund GOD BLESS BABY Blue Musical Plush Teddy Bear $14.95 |
| | GUND NEW GOD BLESS BABY ANGEL PINK GIRL PLUSH TOY BRAND NEW $14.25 |
| | BABY GUND plush WHITE “GOD BLESS BABY” BEAR #58416 $13.99 |
| | Baby Starters Snuggle Buddy God Bless This Baby Plush Teddy Bear White Lovey $13.99 |
| | BABY GUND Plush Blue Angel”God Bless Baby”Rattle WASHED $13.49 |
| | GUND God Bless Baby TINY FAITH Plush Pink TEDDY BEAR 58414 Girls $12.99 |
| | ♥ GuND GOD BLESS BABY TINY PRAISE & MUSICAL PLuSH BEAR $12.99 |
| | NEW GUND Baby God Bless Baby Pink Girl Plush Doll Lovey Angel Blond Velor 15″ $12.99 |
| | NWT BABY GUND BLUE GOD BLESS BABY DOLL 8 inches # 58769 $12.99 |
| | Gund Baby God Bless Bear Pullstring Musical White 12.5″ $12.99 |
| | Baby Gund Blue GOD BLESS BABY Angel BEAR Plush 5803 $12.99 |
| | Baby Gund God Bless Baby Faith Plush Pink Teddy Bear Doll Lovey 58415 EUC $12.99 |
| | Aurora Baby GOD BLESS Blue TEDDY BEAR Plush $12.99 |
| | Baby Gund Pink Girls God Bless Baby Angel Rattle Plush $12.99 |
| | Blue Gund GOD BLESS BABY Plush Teddy Bear Lovey 58412 $12.99 |
| | NWT Baby Gund God Bless Baby Angel Rattle Toy Plush 5″ $12.99 |
| | GUND 9″ Light Blue GOD BLESS BABY Plush Bear # 58412 $12.99 |
| | New Baby Gund pink God Bless Baby plush angel rattle $12.95 |
| | Aurora Baby Blue GOD BLESS Musical Teddy Bear Toy $12.95 |
| | Baby Gund Pink Faith Teddy Bear 58415 God Bless Baby $12.95 |
| | Pink God Bless Angel Plush Doll Nursery Safe $12.95 |
| | 16″ Baby Gund GOD BLESS Pink FAITH Teddy Bear Plush Stuffed Curly Soft Toy 58415 $12.95 |
| | Gund God Bless Baby Pink Angel Rattle Plush Lovey $12.65 |
| | BABY GUND plush PINK “GOD BLESS BABY” BEAR #58414 $12.59 |
| | Bigger 12″ GUND God Bless Baby Plush Stufffed Animal Lamb Pink $12.44 |
| | Baby Gund God Bless Baby Praise 14″ Blue Teddy Bear 58413 Stuffed Animal Toy $12.34 |
| | Gund Cream GOD BLESS BABY Tiny Glory Bear Plush 58416 $11.99 |
| | Baby Gund God Bless Musical Faith Pink Bear 6″ Plush $11.99 |
| | 14″ Baby Gund GOD BLESS BABY Blue PRAISE Plush Stuffed Teddy Bear Toy 58413 $11.99 |
| | Gund God Bless Blue Tiny Praise Plush Teddy Bear Lovey $11.88 |
| | HOLY BEARS plush PINK LAMB “GOD BLESS BABY” with RATTLE $11.69 |
| | GUND God Bless Baby Ivory Teddy Bear Lovey 9″ 58416 $11.12 |
| | Baby Gund HEAVENS BLESSINGS GOD BLESS boy doll 10″ Soft Blue White Baby Toy Cute $11.04 |
| | Lenox Holiday Bless This Home Tray $40.00 Fill your home with warmth and good cheer this Christmas season with the Holiday collection by Lenox. Crafted of fine Lenox porcelain, this serving tray features a delicate holly leaf design against an ivory finish with a gold rim. Above the holly decoration, the plate bears the heartfelt message “Bless This Home.” Use to serve your favorite Christmas hor d’oeuvres, bread and treats, or display as… |
| | New Polish Pottery 12oz Mug – BOZE BLOGOSLAW, GOD BLESS $18.95 Original hand-made Pottery from BolesÅawiec, Poland. This newly designed custom Polish Pottery mug has the Polish phrase Boże BÅogosÅaw Ten Dom on one side and the English equivalent God Bless This Home on the other side. Each piece is high quality BolesÅawiec stoneware: – Hand-crafted & hand-decorated by local Polish Artists – Easy to Clean – Microwave Safe – Oven Safe – Freezer… |
| | God Bless American Sheep Welcome Doormat Mat Trends David Harden $19.95 … |
| | 10,000 Reasons [+Digital Booklet] $5.00 … |
| | The Other Side $11.99 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
| | Greatest Hits Volume 1 $8.74 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
| | Lawrence Welk, God Bless America $2.52 The Most Dramitic Patriotic Jusic Special Ever Starring the Welk Musical Family! Teh 18 Stars appearing in this special are: Elaine Balden, Bobby Burgess, Jo Ann Castle, Henry Cuesta, Dick Dale, AnacanI, Ralna English, Joe Fenney, Myron Floren, Guy Hovis, Jack Imel, The Lennon Sisters, Mary Lou Metzger, Tom Netherton, Bob Ralston, and Norma Zimmer…. |
| | God Bless America – with Bill & Gloria Gaither and their Homecoming Friends: Live from Carnegie Hall [VHS] $4.69 Singing the songs of God in the aftermath of September 11th, the dynamic duo Bill and Gloria Gaither sing songs of patriotism and hope live from Carnegie Hall in New York City, featuring guest appearances from performers such as Sandi Patty, Andrae Crouch, and The Isaacs. Enjoy the gospel sounds of songs such as “God Loves New York City,” “Is There Anything I Can Do?,” and “Onward Christian Soldie… |
| | Bless the Beasts & Children [VHS] $14.95 … |
| | BLESS THIS HOME AND ALL WHO ENTER Vinyl wall lettering quotes and sayings home art decor decal $0.78 Wall quotes are one of the latest trends in home decor. This new fashion is the perfect way to express yourself or add that little extra touch to a room without breaking the bank. Vinyl wall quotes give the look of a hand-painted word, quote, or saying without the cost, time, and permanent paint on your wall. They are easy to apply and can be easily removed without damaging your walls. Our quotes … |
