Have you every blessed someone who sneezes?

sneezing - achoo!
United States
April 25, 2007 7:15am CST
I always say God bless you! And when someone blesses me when I sneeze I say thank you! I usually wait to see if the person I say bless you to says thank you. When they don't I find it kind of weird and it does offend me. Especially when it is someone close to me whom I know personally and not a stranger. The same goes with when I say Good morning or good night to a loved one and get no response. What would you feel in either situation? Has either ever happened to you? would you be mad annoyed or offended?
9 people like this
21 responses
@sabwinner (499)
• China
25 Apr 07
I don't say that actually. I belive the reason is differnet culture. Nobody says that in my country! The first react I probably say when we see someone sneeze is "Oh, somebody is missing you!" See? That's totally different people usually do here. Well, I still believe that when somebody sneeze you can show your kind to him. That's polite.
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
25 Apr 07
that's one way of dealing with the matter, too. saying someone might be missing you is sweet, too. and it's nice to hear. actually, any positive responses make us smile.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Apr 07
Thanks for responding! ~Sherry~ ('',)
@eyewitness (1575)
• Netherlands
25 Apr 07
well here in Holland we say Gesundheid or cheers instead of bless you.I think it depends on which country you are in. But if someone doesn't say thank you i'm like okey don't mind it.Sometimes they do sometimes they don't.
2 people like this
• United States
24 May 07
Gesundheid isn't that German? LOl Thanks for responding!
@Betso221 (1699)
• India
26 Apr 07
Yes i do bless him cause it's become a habit for me to blees someone if he or she sneezes in front of me. But i don't know hat is the reason behind this that people bless someone when they sneeze. I have heard that when some one is thinkin about you in a really crazy way that's the time you sneeze. Does anyone know what are the other reasons.
@chileman (967)
• Australia
26 Apr 07
Yeah it's just a habit for me also saying 'Bless You' . My dad use to say "check your teeth are still there" to us but it never caught on although it was funny.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Apr 07
I was raised that way so I always say bless you it comes natural and thanks betso!
@jbb316 (1779)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I always say bless you. I always have since I was a child. It is weird if I sneeze and no one says anything. I usually just keep doing what I am doing or I will say excuse me.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Apr 07
Thanks jbb316! If I sneeze and no one blesses me I bless myself! LOL!
@meljessxena (2315)
• Australia
26 Apr 07
i say bless you, when someone sneezes, and if someone says it to me when i sneeze i say thanks. and it makes them feel good etc, i think when people dont say thanks etc when it happens bit rude but well it doesnt really offend me that much. i say good night and goodmorning to family n friends and they all say it back. i just find it so polite.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Apr 07
Thanks meljessxena!
• India
25 Apr 07
Yea,we used it do it in school during a certain period when it was going around as a joke. Think it originated from the seniors in those times. But now i don't say it. And about the main thing, this also happened in school, whenever we used to wish our teachers in school a good morning they never respond back,and the school has made it compulsory that we wish them. Kinda freaks me out this..
2 people like this
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
25 Apr 07
it had been a habit to always say the bless you phrase when i hear someone sneeze... whether i know the person or not. and ofcourse, i would be a bit offended if i won't even hear a simple "thanks" from that person. when i sneeze and someone says the bless you phrase at me, i just smile and whisper thanks. and i feel better.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Apr 07
Thanks for responding! ~Sherry~ ('',)
@pendragon (3348)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I always say it to anyone at all if they sneeze,lol.I don't feel right if I don't.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Apr 07
Me too it's just comes naturally for me...
• Philippines
26 Apr 07
When I say bless you when somebody sneezes I don't actually wait for a response. A smile from the other person as a response means a great appreciation of what you've said. It's like you're giving something and you still want something in return. When I say thank you to someone a simple nod from that person would mean you're welcome. Actions speaks louder than words.
• United States
28 Apr 07
I agree that actions speak louder than words but there are like three people that I am very close to and they don't even give a simple nod!!! It's like duh! Nothing! That's what irritates me.
• United States
25 Apr 07
I say God Bless You no matter if they are a stranger or loved one. I'm always saying it. I don't ever expect anyone to say it back, although my husband says it to me each time. I say Good morning to those I see in public. If they don't say anything back I just say a quick prayer for them. They didn't hear me or they have something on their mind. Either way, it doesn't hurt to pray for them. I never expect anything back. It doesn't annoy me either. I don't let little things like that bother me because I know sometimes, I don't feel like saying anything back to someone else. Sometimes, we're just quiet and want to left alone.
• United States
28 Apr 07
Thanks for responding! ~Sherry~ ('',)
• United States
25 Apr 07
I also always say bless you when someone sneezes. More times than not, I receive a thank you after I say it. I don't get mad or offended at not receiving a thank you, and I think that it has to do with me not really allowing things I cannot control to change my mood. In terms of the other scenario, I say good morning to my wife (who recipricates the response) and co-workers when I arrive at work. Most times, my co-workers also say good morning, but other times just walk on by. Still even in that case, I do not allow that to bring my attitude down, because even though they might be having a bad day, misery loves company and I will not allow myself to go down that road.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Apr 07
Great response! I agree not to travel that road also! Thanks movikings!
1 person likes this
@aribaba (366)
• Indonesia
26 Apr 07
yes of course. I am a moslem, there's specific blessing for someone who sneezing, it's kind of pray that God will bless both of us. no matter with whom we said that.
• United States
28 Apr 07
thanks for responding! ~Sherry~ ('',)
@Nardz13 (5055)
• New Zealand
26 Apr 07
hi sjohnson. Yes I have blessed a person after they've sneezed and then Ive quickly moved away from them, for fear of getting sneeze smell and sneeze on me lol.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Apr 07
LOL! Thanks for responding! ~Sherry~ ('',)
26 Apr 07
it infuriates me when people decide i need blessed just because i sneeze. i find it ignorant and insulting. Be Well X
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Apr 07
wow!
@gemini1960 (1161)
• Philippines
25 Apr 07
No, i am not superstitious , i have heared already about sneezing, for me people sneeze due to allergies, maybe got contactect with pollens or dust through the air we inhale in our sorroundings which makes us sneeze .
• United States
26 Apr 07
Wow how sad. I say bless you for sure. I used to say God bless you. I dont know why I dont say that anymore. The whole reason behind it is, for 1 second your heart stops beating. You say God Bless You because you just came back your heart beats ago. I think its cool knowing what it means. I have said that and even close to me dont always respond. I'd say thank you. But I try to hold sneezing whenever possible in public (I know its bad!) because I always sneeze VERY loud!
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Apr 07
I do say God Bless you when someone sneezes and when someone says it to me I always say thank you. But people are in such a hurry and maybe they didn't hear you say God Bless you. Maybe their mind was some where else. If it is a stranger I don't get offended but if it is someone I know than I tend to get irritated but only if this happens all the time.
1 person likes this
@taymouse (585)
• United States
26 Apr 07
I don't always but a lot of the time I do. And I don't expect a "thank you". Sometimes it can be people being rude, but sometimes it could just be a stranger being shy. And if it's someone I know, I don't mind as much, because they're my friend.
1 person likes this
@Rickrocks8 (1751)
• United States
25 Apr 07
I always say bless you. I have never had anyone get upset with me, so I say you keep right on blessing them!
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Apr 07
Thanks for responding! ~Sherry~ ('',)
@izathewzia (5134)
• Philippines
27 Nov 07
Yes, I am so used of saying "bless you" when I heard someone sneezes except if they are strangers. It seemed like an automatic response of me.