Why say "Bless You"?

It came about because when people sneeze your heart stops, this is why people say God Bless You.

I never really knew about this. Glad to know someone started a discussion about it:) I never really say bless you either when someone sneeze before but my husband says it and some of my friends do too so i got influenced without knowing the reason.:P

I think its not a habit, when some one do good and fair for you, you say words like these, you become happy and you like to say some happy words to him or her. its a natural reflex to say bless you.

And I thought there was only one reason. :) What I heard is that when you sneeze, you sneeze your spirit or soul out of your body. When somebody says "Bless You" then the spirit or soul goes back. Same with saying "Gezeudheit." Did I get the spelling right? :)

I don't know if there's a specific why we sy it? But I think everyone could usse all the blessing they can get in this world that we live in. I'm glad for someone to bless me.

Of course you don't just say "bless you" to a stranger. What if he's an atheist? You might get black eyes. Maybe people say "bless you" because you sneeze out all of your blessings? haha... I think I haven't used that expression because I often react with "pls. turn away when you sneeze" or "don't sneeze at me." I don't know, because some of my friends are so barbaric haha... just kidding.

itstarted during the middleages when the bubonic plague ravaged europe and asia. Sneezing was one of the first symptoms of the virus and it was a prayer that the person really wasn't going to die, ofr if they did, the last thing you said to them was a prayer for blessings from god.

I dont think its beacause your heart actually stops beating when you sneeze as someone else posted. Frankly now a days i think its more habit and considered polite then anything else. I always say it to people when they sneeze. At least my family members.