“Bless You”

When someone sneezes, you say “bless you” or hear someone else say these words.

Why? Why are these words spoken?

Bless you is a common expression, used to wish a person blessings in various situations, especially as a response to a sneeze, and also, when parting or writing a valediction.

When? When did this saying originate?

The saying started to originate when pope Gregory 1 was fighting a disease and he ordered unending prayers.

How? How did this saying originate?

At the time sneezing was thought to be an early symptom of the plague, the blessing (“God Bless You!”) became a common effort to halt the disease.

Where? Where did the saying originate?

The saying “god bless you” originated in at least AD77.