# Sneezing Mexicans. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 1, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883 "2008-01-01T14:42:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mextex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Mextex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mextex)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/1 "2008-01-01T14:42:50Z")
Married to a Mexican and being around Mexicans in the Tex-Mex border area and Mexico, i noticed that most Mexicans when they sneeze can’t stop till at least the third count. Why? is it genetic? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/2 "2008-01-01T14:58:03Z")
I guess I’m Mexican too, because the same thing happens to me. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/3 "2008-01-01T15:01:03Z")
[QUOTE=monstro] I guess I’m Mexican too, because the same thing happens to me. [/QUOTE] Me too!!! I’m gonna go ahead and put in my vote for confirmation bias. ---
**Author:** ![Mextex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Mextex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mextex)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/4 "2008-01-01T15:39:59Z")
> **[National Geographic](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/)** > > Explore National Geographic. A world leader in geography, cartography and exploration. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/5 "2008-01-01T16:04:11Z")
I usually sneeze at least six times. I’m a _double Mexican!_ ---
**Author:** ![bcullman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bcullman/32/8207_2.png) [@bcullman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bcullman)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/6 "2008-01-01T17:58:20Z")
I have the same condition, but I am not of mexican origin. See… > **[Photic sneeze reflex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photic_sneeze_reflex)** > > The photic sneeze reflex (also known as Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst (ACHOO) syndrome) is an inherited and congenital autosomal dominant reflex condition that causes sneezing in response to numerous stimuli, such as looking at bright lights or periocular (surrounding the eyeball) injection. The condition affects 18–35% of the world's population, but its exact mechanism of action is not well understood. > The photic sneeze reflex manifests itself in the form of uncontroll... ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/7 "2008-01-01T18:24:01Z")
[QUOTE=bcullman] I have the same condition, but I am not of mexican origin. See… > **[Photic sneeze reflex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photic_sneeze_reflex)** > > The photic sneeze reflex (also known as ACHOO syndrome, a contrived acronym for Autosomal-dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst) is an inherited and congenital autosomal dominant reflex condition that causes sneezing in response to numerous stimuli, such as looking at bright lights or periocular (surrounding the eyeball) injection. The condition affects 18 to 35% of the world's population, but its exact mechanism of action is not well understood. > The photic sneeze reflex manifests as unc... [/QUOTE] That has nothing to do with the OP. The OP alleges that Mexicans have a tendency to sneeze **three times** , not that they sneeze when exposed to sunlight. Without some substantion that there is actually some definite tendency for Mexicans to sneeze at least three times, which the OP has not provided, I do not believe we have a phenomenon here which requires an explanation. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/8 "2008-01-01T18:24:50Z")
[QUOTE=Mextex] Married to a Mexican and being around Mexicans in the Tex-Mex border area and Mexico, i noticed that most Mexicans when they sneeze can’t stop till at least the third count. Why? is it genetic? [/QUOTE] I don’t care how many times you sneeze, as long as you cover your nose & mouth. From what I’ve seen riding the bus, this does not seem to be a feature of some Latin American cultures. I know someone is going to come in & tell me that they are from \_\_\_\_ Latin American country where everyone covers their nose & mouth when they sneeze. In fact, I know that this will happen several times. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/9 "2008-01-01T18:29:29Z")
Perhaps it’s only a Tex-Mexican border phenom because I never noticed this in San Diego or LA or even San Antonio (although I was not paying attention). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/10 "2008-01-01T18:32:42Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] Perhaps it’s only a Tex-Mexican border phenom because I never noticed this in San Diego or LA or even San Antonio (although I was not paying attention). [/QUOTE] We have no evidence that is any kind of phenomenon at all. ---
**Author:** ![BuddhaRojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de0a6/32.png) [@BuddhaRojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuddhaRojo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/11 "2008-01-01T18:36:50Z")
[QUOTE=Mextex] Married to a Mexican and being around Mexicans in the Tex-Mex border area and Mexico, i noticed that most Mexicans when they sneeze can’t stop till at least the third count. Why? is it genetic? [/QUOTE] Are you serious??? I known a lot of people from different backgrounds that sneeze beyond the three sneeze mark. Just so you know, yes, we can sneeze at one or two sneezes. ---
**Author:** ![BuddhaRojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de0a6/32.png) [@BuddhaRojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuddhaRojo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/12 "2008-01-01T18:43:32Z")
[QUOTE=BMax] I don’t care how many times you sneeze, as long as you cover your nose & mouth. From what I’ve seen riding the bus, this does not seem to be a feature of some Latin American cultures. I know someone is going to come in & tell me that they are from \_\_\_\_ Latin American country where everyone covers their nose & mouth when they sneeze. In fact, I know that this will happen several times. [/QUOTE] Latin American cultures is a **broad** spectrum. I am sure that there are some countries in Latin America where folks will sneeze without covering their nose, but as a _mexicano_ I have never noticed any particular mexican culture rule towards covering or not covering. FWIW, not covering your nose may lead to having all that _moco_ hanging out of your nose and loosing that edge with the ladies. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/13 "2008-01-01T18:47:09Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] We have no evidence that is any kind of phenomenon at all. [/QUOTE] I have noticed that some folks from Panama have no sense of levity. Perhaps it’s genetic. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/14 "2008-01-01T19:13:19Z")
I keep hearing Judy Garland singing “I’m an Indian Too” from _Annie Get Your Gun_. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/15 "2008-01-01T19:26:40Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] I have noticed that some folks from Panama have no sense of levity. Perhaps it’s genetic. [/QUOTE] Given the level of ignorance often present in GQ, if you are making a facetious remark it never hurts to include a smiley. It can often be difficult to tell. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/16 "2008-01-01T20:50:20Z")
Triple-sneezing honky here. I’ll vote with [confirmation bias](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias) as well. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/17 "2008-01-01T21:07:31Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] Given the level of ignorance often present in GQ, if you are making a facetious remark it never hurts to include a smiley. It can often be difficult to tell. 😉 [/QUOTE] Agreed. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/18 "2008-01-02T15:46:18Z")
So, like this guy (Mexican?) was walking with his donkey to the market. The donkey was carrying a fairly heavy load which was not properly secured and was leaning badly to one side. A traveller, heading in the other direction said as he passed, “Hey dude, all the stuff is about to fall off your donkey.” Donkey Owner paid him no mind and continued on his way. Sure enough, about a hundred yards further down the road the load finally came crashing to the ground. “Wow!” thought Donkey Owner, “That guy can see into the future! I’d better go back and talk to him!” So he ran back down the road to the prophet and dropped to his knees in admiration and begged him to tell him his future. The Prophet was rather vexed by this. But since Donkey Owner started talking about paying him for his divination services he felt he had to oblige. “OK, what 'cha wanna know?” “Anything, tell me anything at all! Tell me, how will I die?” “Prophet thought for a second and said, You’ll die when your donkey sneezes three times.” He continued on his way, a little happier and wealthier for having me the Donkey Owner. Donkey man returned to his beast and started loading his goods back on, when suddenly his donkey sneezed. He was concerned, but not too much, and kept on loading the donkey. Donkey sneezed again. Dude became nervous, but not too much because, you know, usualy you only sneeze twice and…in a panic he jammed a large rock in each of the donkey’s nostrils. “That ought to keep him from sneezing a third time…” “A-CHOO!!!” said the donkey, and the rocks flew out of his nose and hit dude on the head and killed him. There’s a moral in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/19 "2008-01-02T16:13:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Sneezing Mexicans Slight hijack … Band name. Now, back to our regular programming. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883/20 "2008-01-02T17:02:13Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] I keep hearing Judy Garland singing “I’m an Indian Too” from _Annie Get Your Gun_. [/QUOTE] Judy Garland? Don’t you mean Ethel Merman or Betty Hutton? ETA: I should note (the wife and I were watching That’s Entertainment parts I-III last night) ETA2: I usually sneeze three times when I sneeze. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneezing-mexicans/431883.md?page=2)