# Do you bless strangers that sneeze? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 31, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463 "2003-03-31T16:00:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grettle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@grettle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grettle)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/1 "2003-03-31T16:00:12Z")
Everytime I hear someone sneeze, whether it be int he computer lab at school, on the train, in the elevater, etc I have an overwhelming urge to say “Bless you.” This may stem from my upbringing with such an emphasis on manners and politeness, or perhaps the movie Dogma, I don’t know. I was just wondering if other Dopers felt a similar urge. As an aside, doesn’t the origin of the expression have something to do with old folklore and demons? I have forgotten. . . ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/2 "2003-03-31T16:06:51Z")
Yeah, I do. And I’m agnostic. It’s just ingrained habit. The only person I don’t say “bless you” to is my dad, who will invariably reply with a heavy sigh, “It’s unlikely.” ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/3 "2003-03-31T16:07:30Z")
I sneeze a lot and I find I get blessed a lot by strangers, which is always nice. The best time was once in France, I sneezed while walking past a big hedge, and from the other side of the hedge about six voices blessed me (in French, of course). Myself, I prefer ‘Gesundheit’ as it leaves the religious connotations out of it. There are some kinds of blessings I can do without. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/4 "2003-03-31T16:20:31Z")
Yes, I do. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/5 "2003-03-31T16:36:46Z")
Me, too, and although I did it before the movie Dogma came out, I am more conscious that I do it … er, religiously… now. There is just no reason to tempt fate, I guess. I understand that some people don’t particularly want blessing from any deity, but to me it’s less a religious issue than a social one. If someone wants their god to bless me, it’s OK with me. If said god/s are infallible as they’re supposed to be, I’m sure they won’t bestow blessings where they’re not wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/6 "2003-03-31T17:03:07Z")
I’m an atheist, and I always say “Bless You”, even to strangers. It’s just habit, and I suppose I feel it is expected and would be impolite not to. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/7 "2003-03-31T17:13:37Z")
Same as **RevTim**. I don’t say _God_ bless you, but the habit to say _something_ is deeply ingrained. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/8 "2003-03-31T17:18:51Z")
I have a firm policy against engaging in any such inanity. We no longer believe that one’s spirit is leaving the body when one sneezes. So what makes it “polite” to draw any additional attention to one’s bodily eminations and noises? Why don’t we say “God bless you” to farts and burps? ---
**Author:** ![Calladair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Calladair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calladair)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/9 "2003-03-31T17:31:38Z")
I’m an athiest and say it. I also say silly things like “I beg your pardon?” when someone speaks unclearly. They’re polite conventions that lubricate social interactions. I’d honour the request if someone objected. ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/10 "2003-03-31T17:41:19Z")
I do bless sneezing strangers, despite my total lack of any religious convictions to speak of. It is an odd habit, I admit, and **Walloon** makes a good point about it being a strange thing to be a matter of politeness. But I do it anyway. Per the OP’s question about the origin of this particular custom, my understanding is that superstition necessitates blessing someone before they inhale after a sneeze, because otherwise, they might suck in an evil spirit. It’s like holidng your breath when you pass a cemetary, to avoid inhaling ghosts. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/11 "2003-03-31T17:46:23Z")
I’m an agnostic (this week, check back next week) and I say ‘bless you’ when anyone sneezes within earshot. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/12 "2003-03-31T17:50:31Z")
Heck, I don’t even say it to strangers that don’t sneeze. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/13 "2003-03-31T18:08:07Z")
\<\\> When my son was four, he started bringing ideas home from kindergarden. One day he sneezed and then informed me that I should bless him. So I did. Then I asked him why I should bless him. He replied: “Because if you don’t, then I have to say excuse me.” Worked for me. Other bodily noises are held to be too gross for anyone to acknowledge by comment, I guess. Either that or they don’t cause so much body movement and therefore don’t necessarily stop the conversation. Some sneezes are a whole body experience. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/14 "2003-03-31T18:52:41Z")
Depending on the emination, I say either ‘bless you’ or ‘dear god, what crawled up your butt and died’. Depending on the emination. ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/15 "2003-03-31T19:15:16Z")
Haven’t seen the movie, but yep–I do it. Unfortunately, I’ve had to work out a separate deal for my athiest SO (who complained about being “blessed” ;)) when HE sneezes. Usually, with him, I START to say “Bless You,” but then catch myself and say, “Oops, I mean Fuck You.” He’s cool with that, but I’m deathly afraid I’ll accidentally say “Fuck You” to a sneezing stranger one day. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![skaterboarder87](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@skaterboarder87](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skaterboarder87)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/16 "2003-03-31T19:16:54Z")
I’m an atheist and do not ever say “Bless you”. No one ever says anything if you cough or fart or blow your nose. Why should sneezing be any different? ---
**Author:** ![3.885AM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/58956e/32.png) [@3.885AM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3.885AM)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/17 "2003-03-31T19:24:52Z")
No, never got in the habit. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/18 "2003-03-31T19:41:20Z")
Actually, that’s a damn hilarious idea—I’m going to start _doing_ that! ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/19 "2003-03-31T19:52:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*Actually, that’s a damn hilarious idea—I’m going to start _doing_ that! \*\* Anytime someone farts loud enough to hear (my schnozz doesn’t work so well, so I cannot go by smell alone…), I already _do_ say “Bless you!” And when they sneeze? “Excuse you.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lovelyluka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@lovelyluka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lovelyluka)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463/20 "2003-03-31T19:56:30Z")
I say “bless you” anytime my reply is within earshot of the person who sneezed. I have to control this, because sometimes I mumble “bless you” to someone on the other side of the room. I do it because it’s polite. The idea that their spirit has just soared out of their nose into a tissue, their hand, or the hair of person in front of them is silly and the farthest thing from my mind. I just think it’s kind, analogous to giving someone a hand if they trip, although on a smaller scale. That being said, I love the scene from Dogma. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-bless-strangers-that-sneeze/165463.md?page=2)