“Bless You”

Whenever someone sneezes, you say “Bless you” or hear someone else say these words.

1.     The phrase “Bless you” is a common English expression, used to wish a persons blessings in various situations, especially in response to a sneeze.

2.     The saying originated in AD 77.

3.     In 590 as an outbreak of the bubonic plague was reaching Rome. In hopes of fighting off the disease, was ordered unending prayer and parades of chanters through the streets. At the time sneezing was thought to be an early symptom of the plague. The blessing “God bless you” became a common effort to halt the disease.

4.      The saying originated in Rome in AD 750.