Why 'God Bless You' After a Sneeze? From Plague to Evil Spirits

• The custom of saying "God Bless You" after a sneeze has historical, cultural, and spiritual origins.
• One origin traces back to the bubonic plague in Rome, where Pope Gregory said it to protect those sneezing, a symptom of the deadly disease.
• Another European belief suggested that sneezing momentarily stopped the heart, and the blessing ensured the person's safety and normal heartbeat.
• Spiritually, it was thought to protect against death, harm, or evil spirits entering the body after sneezing.

Why It Matters: It explains the surprising origins of a common social custom.