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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-you-my-son-for-you-have-sneezed/477465/10 "2008-12-17T02:09:35Z")
Well, I’m originally from Scotland and have absolutely no memory or experience with the “bless you” thing after a sneeze. It seemed very North American when I got here. Or maybe I just don’t remember it from the UK? It still bugs me though. I never offer any blessings, and when someone does to me it seems very artificial.
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### Author:  [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-you-my-son-for-you-have-sneezed/477465/11 "2008-12-17T02:36:08Z")
I’m from Alabama and certainly, most people here say “Bless you” after someone sneezes, but I just never got in the habit of it, and I never say it. Actually, I think it is a little awkward when it does happen because I never know quite how to respond. I definitely don’t feel uncomfortable when no one reacts to a sneeze.
Valete,
Vox Imperatoris
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### Author:  [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-you-my-son-for-you-have-sneezed/477465/12 "2008-12-17T02:55:11Z")
> [@panamajack](#):
>
> Muslims will often say _Alhamdulillah_ after sneezing. As far as I know it means “praise God” so it might be a related cultural tradition.
Looking back I guess I did hear that a few times after sneezes in Cameroon.
I know it’s just culture, but I was surprised how deep this bit of silly ritual runs in me. I’ve been out of town for two and half years, and every unblessed sneeze still hangs there like a sentence without a period.
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### Author:  [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-you-my-son-for-you-have-sneezed/477465/13 "2008-12-17T04:07:22Z")
> [@filmyak](#):
>
> Are there modern cultures that do not say anything at all after someone sneezes — just like most coughs are ignored?
An old girlfriend and I had an mundane, pointless, rather inebriated discussion about what one should say when people coughed. We decided the correct thing to say, instead of _“God Bless You”_, was "_You ignore it!"_
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### Author:  [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-you-my-son-for-you-have-sneezed/477465/14 "2008-12-17T04:25:44Z")
I wish my boss could break herself of the “Bless you” habit when I sneeze, especially since I’m one of those “three-sneeze-in-short-succession” people. Plus she can’t just say “God bless you”…she accompanies it with gagging noises, and sometimes says “godblessyougodblessyougodblessyou” to cover all three expected sneezes. I am of the camp that believes the _ **sneezer** _ should say “excuse me” if anything at all is to be said, so I sometimes try to get that in after the sneeze and before she can bless me… I really wish she could just ignore them. It is (almost) the only thing I would change about her.
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### Author:  [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-you-my-son-for-you-have-sneezed/477465/15 "2008-12-17T08:34:15Z")
> [@kittenblue](#):
>
> I wish my boss could break herself of the “Bless you” habit when I sneeze, especially since I’m one of those “three-sneeze-in-short-succession” people. Plus she can’t just say “God bless you”…she accompanies it with gagging noises, and sometimes says “godblessyougodblessyougodblessyou” to cover all three expected sneezes. I am of the camp that believes the _ **sneezer** _ should say “excuse me” if anything at all is to be said, so I sometimes try to get that in after the sneeze and before she can bless me… I really wish she could just ignore them. It is (almost) the only thing I would change about her.
I’ve been known to have some fairly epic sneezing fits, and even on a less prodigious day can sneeze more than once throughout the course of a morning or afternoon. On occasion, I’ve made it known to people that just one blessing will cover (at least) a whole day’s worth of sneezes so far as I’m concerned.
Interesting that it’s described fairly uniformly here as ‘custom.’ Is it impolite NOT to offer benedictions? I generally don’t, but have often wondered if it was another example of my inadvertent rudeness. I’d feel better if I knew people weren’t taking offense at my post-sneeze silence.
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### Author:  [@Claptree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claptree)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-you-my-son-for-you-have-sneezed/477465/16 "2008-12-17T10:22:13Z")
As I quite enjoy a good sneeze, I assume others do as well and therefore offer my congratulations, often in the form of a loud YAY!
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### Author:  [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-you-my-son-for-you-have-sneezed/477465/17 "2008-12-17T10:38:10Z")
I’m partial to the Seinfeldian, “You’re SOOOOO goodlookin’!” following a sneeze.
Also, in the move, “Singles,” Bridget Fonda’s character longed for Matt Dillon’s character to say, “Bless You,” after she sneezed.
Having said those things, I couldn’t care less whether or not someone blesses me; I do, however, always say “excuse me.” And I also, courteously, sneeze into my elbow (or a Kleenex) and not my hands!
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### Author:  [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-you-my-son-for-you-have-sneezed/477465/18 "2008-12-17T10:45:21Z")
Here in Japan sneezes almost always go unacknowledged. However, I have known some people here who will apologize after sneezing. Although, growing up in Ohio I heard the same thing. Even now I almost always say “Excuse me” after a loud sneeze.
ETA: Ah, Hazle, sis, you beat me to it!
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### Author:  [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-you-my-son-for-you-have-sneezed/477465/19 "2008-12-17T11:11:01Z")
> [@seodoa](#):
>
> Here in Japan sneezes almost always go unacknowledged. However, I have known some people here who will apologize after sneezing. Although, growing up in Ohio I heard the same thing. Even now I almost always say “Excuse me” after a loud sneeze.
>
> ETA: Ah, Hazle, sis, you beat me to it!
Hilarious! What are you still doing up, young man? I am so telling Mom. By the way, get a haircut, sweetie! 😉
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### Author:  [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2008, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bless-you-my-son-for-you-have-sneezed/477465/20 "2008-12-17T11:37:25Z")
> [@Claptree](#):
>
> As I quite enjoy a good sneeze, I assume others do as well and therefore offer my congratulations, often in the form of a loud YAY!
Me too, and I would much prefer this to “Bless you.” I mean, really, since the whole point is to let me know you heard me sneeze (it’s a _good_ thing that you heard me sneeze _pats head_), might as well congratulate me on a sneeze well done as try to keep my soul from flying out of my body. Which I’m confident was never going to happen.
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