How/why did saying things like bless you or gesundheit start? And when?

  • squiblet@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    It’s hard to say when it began, but it’s a nearly worldwide tradition. Check out this page of different salutations:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Response_to_sneezing
    My belief is that it’s generally because sneezing in a sign of illness, and illness tended to be more dangerous centuries ago, before antibiotics and when many people had less access to nutrition, consistent heating, sanitation and so forth.