''Bless You''

By Crusader1307

 One well known Medieval Custom from pretty much all over the “Western World”, involves the “quaint” custom of saying “Bless You” when someone ''sneezes''. Although debated by some as being MUCH older (perhaps 7th Century AD. Rome), the practice is made more clear when we look at it from the perspective of Europe's “Black Death” (or The Plague). Written of in 1275 A.D. If one came in contact with another and they sneezed, the salutation “Bless You” was more ominous. It usually meant that this person was probably going to contract (or had) – the deadly Middle Ages disease and was bound to die from it. The habit carried forward in history from this point (regardless of Pandemic). Some Culture attach other theories as well. In some Central European Nations (again in The Middle Ages), the “Bless You” customs was associated with a “soul” accidentally being “released” by the act of sneezing. By using the phrase, one could make sure the “soul” stayed where it needed to be! Whichever one you prefer (or know of another) – it is nonetheless an interesting “sideshow” of Cultural history!