Why Do We Say "Bless You" When Someone Sneezes?

The plague story

The most famous story dates to the year 590, when a deadly plague swept through Rome. Sneezing could be an early sign of illness, and Pope Gregory I is said to have called for prayers to protect people, including those who sneezed. A quick blessing was a way of saying "I hope you're not about to get very sick."

It's a great story, but it's probably not true. The ancient Romans were already saying something to sneezers back in the first century. Still, the legend has stuck around for centuries, a bit like a sneeze in a crowded elevator.

Your soul is not escaping, promise

Another old belief was that a sneeze could knock your soul out of your body, or let evil spirits in. Saying "bless you" was supposed to protect you during that dangerous split second. Today we know a sneeze is just your body clearing your nose. Your soul is staying put. Probably.

And no, your heart doesn't stop

You may have heard that your heart stops when you sneeze, and "bless you" welcomes you back to life. It's a fun myth, but it's not true. A sneeze can briefly slow your heartbeat or throw off its rhythm for a moment, but your heart does not stop.

Other ways people answer a sneeze

Lots of languages have their own sneeze response. In German, people say "Gesundheit," which means "health." In Spanish, it's "salud" (health) or "Jesús." Many of them wish the sneezer good health, which, honestly, is a pretty nice thing to shout at a stranger.

So should you still say it?

Sure. Today "bless you" is mostly just good manners, like saying "excuse me" when you bump into someone. And if you're the one sneezing, the correct response is "thank you," followed by an awkward search for a tissue.