PeaceBang

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1. I got a question on that, too, once:

   What is the proper response when a stranger, co-worker, or acquaintance near me sneezes? Is it OK to say “Bless you” even if I don’t know that person’s religious preference? What if I offend an atheist by trying to be polite?

   It’s lovely that you’re so concerned with the feelings of atheists, since many people these days seem to assume that atheists don’t have feelings. But you’re on safe ground with “Bless you.” You’ll note that the phrase doesn’t state whose blessing is being invoked. The sneezer is at perfect liberty to imagine that he or she is being blessed by Yahweh, Krishna, Buddha, or, for that matter, you, since you’re the one who said it. And avoiding “God bless you” is generally wise. Sometimes that phrase can prick the sensibilities of believers, who might feel you are taking the Lord’s name in vain. And if all these theological subtleties are enough to make you stick with “Gesundheit” or the more typically Bostonian “Hey, don’t point that thing at me, I just got over a cold last week,” I can’t blame you a bit.

   Comment by Miss Conduct — November 4, 2007 #

2. I say Gesundheit or Salud.

   Comment by h sofia — November 4, 2007 #

3. I personally use ‘gesundheit’. At the same time, I can’t help but feel that sometimes we take these mannerisms a bit too seriously. Should I be offended if I’m told “God Bless You?” Nah. Not worth it.

   “Science Bless You” would be a funny twist on that theme. I’ll have to try that the next time I’m at work… I like the confused look on people’s faces.

   - John

   Comment by John 672 — November 4, 2007 #

4. I think that’s dorky. And annoying. What the heck is wrong with blessing someone, in any language?

   Comment by P — November 5, 2007 #

5. I usually go with “Gazpacho” or “Godzilla.”

   Comment by Chris — November 5, 2007 #

6. I’ve never really had any problems with people saying “Bless you” in any form, despite my atheism. I believe it’s almost more of a verbal tic than anything. My husband pointed out that it’s weird that sneezing is the only bodily function we acknowledge in this way; it’s considered polite to bless a sneeze but just as polite to kindly ignore a burp or a fart. Of course, at home I usually say, “bless you” when one of the kids farts anyway, because they think it’s funny.

   Comment by martinet — November 5, 2007 #

7. martinet - lol re “bless you” at farts.
   That is kind of funny … never thought of it that way!

   Comment by h sofia — November 5, 2007 #

8. I believe, and people can correct me on this, but the tradition of “blessing” people when whey sneeze is based on folklore, which held that somehow part of your “soul” was expelled with a violent sneeze (guess farts didn’t provide easy exit for the soul!), therefore, invoking divine aid was to help “bring it back.”

   Comment by tom — November 6, 2007 #

9. “Gesundheit,” means “health,” I believe, which seems universally appropriate, though I knew a guy in college who would say “Bless you, my child,” in a regal, preistly manner.

   My parents were also not crazy about “God bless you” for taking-the-name-of-the-Lord-in-vain reasons. My mom’s standard for that was to assume whenever we said God’s name we were getting his attention. (Like Valdemort, come to think of it.)

   Imagining a old white man in the sky saying “You don’t REALLY have to point it out to me everytime someone sneezes!” amused me as a little kid.

   CC

   Comment by Chalicechick — November 6, 2007 #

10. My grandmother, who was born and raised in Roxbury in the 1920s, said that in her family a person would be blessed with “Gesundheit” for two consecutive sneezes, but on the third would be dismissed in Yiddish: “Go to hell, you have a cold!”

    Comment by Joyce — November 6, 2007 #

11. Ha ha! I usually say, “Bless you, my child” (to friends who know me) too! Just cuz I think it’s funny to sound like I’m some holy person… especially since I grew up Catholic and women cant be priests. Tee-hee!

    Comment by Mars Girl — November 6, 2007 #

12. I have a friend who says “May the demons leave your body.”

    If I have a particularly annoying cold I’ll respond with “I hope they hurry!”

    Comment by Kristen — November 6, 2007 #

13. i usually say gesundheit (it means roughly “good health) to sneezes but often say bless you to especially awesomely loud belches

    Comment by claire — November 6, 2007 #

14. tom–I have heard your explanation for “bless you” but I have also heard that it originated during the plague years in Europe. Basically at that point if you sneezed that meant you weren’t long for this world, so anyone around you would mutter “God bless you” and flee for their lives.

    I think I do know some people who have farted out their souls, though.

    Comment by martinet — November 6, 2007 #

15. I always say “Bless You” when my nephew burps. He says… “I didn’t sneeze!” and laughs hysterically. I think it is nice when someone says bless you after a sneeze… but the thing I can NOT stand is when the woman who pretends to check my receipt as I leave COSCTO WHOLESALE says “God Bless You!” - Give me my SUPER DUPER sized Special K cereal and let me get out of here!

    Comment by MIchael — November 7, 2007 #

16. In some Spanish speaking countries people say “Salud!” on the first sneeze; “Amor!” on the second sneeze, and “Dinero!” on the third sneeze.

    Among Muslims it is a common practice that when someone sneezes, they should say “praise be to god” and then the people around them should respond, “may god have mercy on you.” But there is a story from the time of Muhammad that after a person sneezes for the third time, the people around them are exempt from the response. Instead they just announce, “You’re sick” and leave it at that!

    Comment by h sofia — November 9, 2007 #

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