This is a stupid little question, but I’ve sort of noticed that when a guy in my workplace sneezes, other guys hardly ever say “Bless you,” except me… When a girl sneezes, many people seem to say it.
Has this sneezing acknowledgement ever had gender-specific rules? Maybe in other cultures? Should I stop saying it? I heard sneezes often come in pairs or triplets, so should one wait before saying anything? Or say it every time?
:o choo
I usually only say it to people who’ve said it to me in the past, doesn’t seem to be a gender thing. I, as well as others I’ve heard, say it after every sneeze, usually by the third time, it’s kinda funny.
FWIW, “bless you” makes no sense to me; I usually say “salud” or “geshundheit”, or “need a Kleenex®?”
I don’t know that there are any gender rules. My guess is that it is something that suggests a connection of intimacy between you and the person you’re “protecting,” even if none exists. The other guys in your workplace might be (even subconsciously) uncomfortable doing something that has this aura w/r/t another guy, but are happy to do it for a woman. (Maybe then she’ll start sleeping with him!)
–Cliffy
The phrase implies concern for the health of the person who sneezed; perhaps the guys feel that such a display of concern would imply that you are not as tough as you should be. More likely, I think that the guys just pay more attention to the girls.
I teach English conversation in Japan. Barely 1% of the population here (including foreigners) is Christian, and so, despite a history of plagues that could hold their own against those of Europe, there is no custom of saying anything when another person sneezes.
At my school, there is one student, a middle-aged father of four, who makes it a point to announce every chance he gets that he is Christian. He’s also a bit of a prig, which probably has nothing whatsoever to do with his religious affiliation.
Since I no longer consider myself a Christian (or Catholic), I never say “God Bless You!” when someone sneezes, but to be polite, I say “Gesundheit!”.
Last week, during a lesson, I sneezed. Mr. Ima Christian remained silent. The student from the local Buddhist university, however, cheerfully sang out, “God Bless You!”.
Seen Dogma?