History Junkie Explains
The Sneeze Blessing
Andy Prescott
From: "Prescott, Andy"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: Sneeze blessings
Date: Monday, June 26, 2000 12:53 PM
The voices in my head told me to write:
Cliff,
I was just perusing some of the letters and I came across the one where you discussed your annoyance with the inevitable "Bless You", after a sneeze. I don't have any solutions, but as a history junkie I can give you one theory on how it got started.
Evidently one of the symptoms of bubonic plague is fits of sneezing, followed closely by death (see the origin of the children's rhyme "Ring Around The Rosy"). With so many people dying and not enough priests to issue last rites, the common rabble were given the authority to administer a final blessing. When someone started sneezing, they were immediately "blessed" lest they die without the final sacrament.
Keep on keepin' on
Andy
Material by Cliff Walker (including unsigned editorial commentary) is copyright ©1995-2006 by Cliff Walker. Each submission is copyrighted by its writer, who retains control of the work except that by submitting it to Positive Atheism, permission has been granted to use the material or an edited version: (1) on the Positive Atheism web site; (2) in Positive Atheism Magazine; (3) in subsequent works controlled by Cliff Walker or Positive Atheism Magazine (including published or posted compilations). Excerpts not exceeding 500 words are allowed provided the proper copyright notice is affixed. Other use requires permission; Positive Atheism will work to protect the rights of all who submit their writings to us.