Why do people say 'God bless you' after someone sneezes?
957309
because your heart stops beating for a second.
45796
The word is "gesundheit", which can be literally translated to "health".  In other words, you're wishing the person good health when you say it.\n\nI don't know why Americans choose to say that word instead of other ones.\n\nJust for fun, Spanish speakers usually say "salud" when someone sneezes (also meaning "health").  If someone sneezes more than once they say these words (two of them for two sneezes, three of them for three sneezes) : salud, dinero, y amor ("health, money, and love").  I personally find it fascinating that money is closer than love to the top of the list.
177804
The word is "gesundheit" and it literally means "good health."  It is usually said similar to the american "bless you" when a person sneezes.  It's a ritualistic response from the days gone by when people believed bad spirits could enter your body when you sneeze.
598924
My guess is that the saying evolved from the expression "Holy Lord!" or "Holy God!".  Over time, language has become more coarse and somebody felt like tossing in the ol' S-word instead of "God" and it stuck.
141720
No...have you? (why don't you add some details to your question so we can find out if you have heard one)\n\nThanks for the explanation...I have no idea why you're hearing sneezes. Maybe it's a ghost or a spirit...
41070
THIS IS THE ORIGIN OF THE CUSTOM:\n\nIn English-speaking countries, it is common for at least one person to say "Bless you" after someone sneezes. The traditional explaination for the custom is that it began literally as a blessing. Pope Gregory I the Great (540-604 AD) ascended to the Papacy just in time for the start of the plague in 590 AD (his successor succumbed to it). To combat the plague Gregory ordered litanies, processions and unceasing prayer for God's intercession. When someone sneezed, they were immediately blessed ("God bless you!") in the hope that they would not subsequently develop the plague.\n\nThis custom persists among speakers of many languages. Common social responses to sneezes in English include "Bless you" and "Gesundheit" (German, "[Good] health [to you]").
863594
I get, "thank you's" often, but then you have your butt heads that don't want to say or they forget or they just weren't taught. The thing to understand is that you, continue to do what is right and be BLESSED by GOD.  Don't let people get you upset because of there ignorance. Stay POSITIVE, because the more you let ignorance bother you the more the devil thinks he wins.\nGOD BLESS YOU and have a good day.
885776
God can be of any religion, not just christianity, I personally am a Pagan.  But I am not offended by these sayings or actions.  I feel that people are too sensitive and should chill out.  I can say god bless you when someone sneezes without getting phobic about it.  To me it is no different than saying thank you or excuse me.
964407
Think of it this way, just as someone says "Bless you" they are asking God to bless you.  If they say, "Curse you", they are asking God to curse you. They, in them-selves. have little power but faith. \n\nThat being said, "God's will be done". Are they cursing you for a righteous reason or a selfish reason? Even still, it's up to God whether or not you deserve what a curse or blessing.\n\nIn the end, sooner or later we all get what we deserve. I doubt those curses will come, sounds selfish to me. "love thy neighbor"
690354
I would at least rub it immediately against my pants to wipe it hastily. It's probably best to tell the person. The person should know I sneezed if we ran into each other right afterward. I never sneeze in my hands. I always try my best to pull  the collar of my shirt to sneeze inside it. Germs don't spread as much.
640985
Sneezing helps u to remove an irritation from your nose.It is more of a response than a voluntary action. Like all other involuntary actions in our body sneezing also involves a lot of muscles. Some of these muscles may be involved in the closing of the eye lids. Being an involuntary action we are unable to keep our eyes open when sneezing. \nHowever we do find yogis who have control on many of their muscles - may be they will be in a better position to keep their eyes open when sneezing.\n\nOn the lighter side - what do you really expect to see when u are sneezing!!!!!
397425
In English-speaking countries, it is common for at least one person to say "Bless you" after someone sneezes. The traditional explanation for the custom is that it began literally as a blessing. Pope Gregory I the Great (540-604 AD) ascended to the Papacy just in time for the start of the plague in 590 AD (his successor succumbed to it). To combat the plague Gregory ordered litanies, processions and unceasing prayer for God's intercession. When someone sneezed, they were immediately blessed ("God bless you!") in the hope that they would not subsequently develop the plague.
1099477
it's an old superstition where your soul is trying to escape your body, and saying bless you chases it back in.\n\nit's become an empty habit now, supposedly polite. which it isn't. not all people like hearing "bless you" constantly. not all religions believe in that.
574231
Sneezing is a reflex that occurs when something irritates the mucus membrane in our nose. Particulate matter, bacteria, and other such things get bogged down in the mucus and tiny hair-like cilia wiggle the potentially hazardous material toward the front of the nose or down the back of the throat. A message is sent to the brainstem, which sends messages all over the body. What happens next?…that great spasmodic reflex we call sneezing, a well-coordinated effort of many muscles working at once…your diaphragm muscle flexes, as do your abdominal muscles, your chest muscles, the muscles controlling the vocal cords, and the muscles in the back of your throat…your tongue raises to block your mouth…and your eyelids close. Air is forced out of your nose, sending thousands of bacteria-filled globules of snot into our immediate atmosphere…and then, as good manners dictate…people will invoke higher powers to bestow upon you a blessing. A most sanctimonious event, indeed!
622343
Its custom and considered mannerly.\n\nOriginaly, if a virgin sneezed three times without being blessed, the Faery folk could take her.
439582
It is said that all bodily functions stop when you sneeze... save the actual sneezing function itself. \n\nDon't know if this really answers your question, but it seemed applicable.\n\nHave a good one!\n\n-Jordan
1041742
As a faith believing Christian, not a religious Christian, I seldom use this phrase, as I find it to be rhetoric and rude.  Some people do not want to be prayed for and especially if they are not of the same beliefs that I am of.  Example:  I went to the dr. yesterday.  Lady with 9 broken fingers came in.  I said, car accident? She said, no husband.  I cried.  I've been there.  She wanted to lie down and I told her I had been in many times and they did not mind if you laid on this particular spot in the waiting room.  She thanked me and I helped her lie down.  I had tears still.  I asked her if she would like me to just sit and hold her and she said that would be nice and we visited.  I then said, I was a Christian and would she be offended if I prayed for her in her healing.  She said no, she would appreciate it.  I leaned down and whispered a prayer in her ear.  And I never even ask her name, so now I pray for broken fingers every time she crosses my mind.