Commander Bell Loc: Lafayette Indiana

Hello stagers,
Spring is here and for some of us that means allergies.
Today's trivia question should be a easy one.
Why do we say Gesundheit and God bless you when someone sneezes?
What does it actually mean 🤔
Commander Bell out 👍

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

I was taught that when you sneeze, your heart stops beating for a second. You say God bless you to acknowledge that it started beating again after stopping. It might be an old wives tale, but that's what I was told.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Couldn't say it any differently. So ditto what Fred says.

Bcmech1 Loc: Clinton Wisconsin

I agree with the other guys about saying God Bless you.
Gesundheit is a German word that means good health. In the context of after someone sneezes, it is a wish for good health to the sneezer.

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

Never heard that but ok.

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

So what do you hear when you sneeze Ed? From as long as I can remember for me.

Foodfisher Loc: SO. Cal coast

Gezundheight?sp or bless you. Either, or, for as long as I've been around.

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

Mostly shut up Ed.

I meant I never heard why you say "god bless you" or "gasuntheit".

mistred64 Loc: Grayslake, illinois

The question from Commander wasn't what do you say? It was what does it mean?

Commander Bell Loc: Lafayette Indiana

Hello stagers,
Here is today's trivia answer:
Yes Gesundheit is German for " Good Health " wishing the sneezer a healthful and speedy recovery.
The origin of God Bless You is a little more complicated.
The three top prevailing theories have their roots in the Dark Ages
Theory #1) It was believed that when you sneezed your heart would actually stop and you could die.
Saying God Bless You was wishing for your soul to go to heaven by being blessed
Modern science has proven that altho your heart rhythm will slightly momentarily change it will not stop the heart. I saw this personally while employed at a hospital monitoring EKGs in a ICU ( Intensive Care Unit )
Theories 2 and 3 also have to do with the soul.
Theory #2 It was believed that when you sneezed you would actually expel your soul from your body.
Blessing you forced it back to you.
Theory #3 ).is similar but goes a little further.
It was believed that when you sneezed your soul would exit the body and evil spirits could enter a soulless body. By saying God Bless You this world prevent the evil spirits from entering your body until the good spirits found their way back.
I hope you all enjoyed this little history lesson.
I know I did 😌
Commander Bell out 👍

kandydisbar Loc: West Orange, NJ

Never heard of any of those reasons but I do say "Bless you!"

Nanook rubs it again Loc: Cape May Nj

I usually say, did you get any on you? 😂

Passingbye Loc: Reidsville NC

I have sneezing fits so bad I could flip all the pancakes at IHOP 20 mi away as my sneezes are like shotgun blast Ahchoo! Fip 🥞. I think it's just a matter of courtesy when we were little we sneezed and someone would say bless you, now that I'm old and sneeze weather at home or out and about I could be across the cove fishing in my boat and have a sneezing fit and somebody on shore will shout bless you! 🤣

smitty Loc: maine

devil enters u

Stosh46 Loc: central pa.

oh yea I can sneeze,fart,and pee at the same time.