Why do people say God bless you when people sneeze?

Question

Why do people say God bless you when people sneeze?

Answer 1

Because it's courtesy; just like excusing yourself when you burp in public (unless you're Japanese).

If you don't believe in God - Gesundheit is another option.  It means "good health".

Answer 2

Your heart stops when you sneeze, so ...yea.

I guess that's why they say it.

Answer 3

It's believed that what you sneeze out are bad things and they say bless you to stop it from going back in.

Answer 4

because sneezing lets the devil in

Answer 5

Back in the dark ages, people thought that when you sneezed it was your soul trying to escape.  Saying 'God bless you" made it go back inside.

Answer 6

Your heart actually skips a beat when you sneeze. Obviously it doesnt hurt anything, but I think that's why they say it.

Answer 7

Actually, the phrase began in Europe during the Black Plague.  Sneezing was the earliest symptom of the illness, and most sufferers rapidly declined and died.  It was a very busy time for priests performing blessings on the ill, especially when they became ill themselves.  Saying God bless you was the best thing common folk could do without a priest around to perform a rite.  It became ingrained in our social consciousness as a way of "blessing" someone who is ill in an attempt to protect ourselves from becoming ill.