---
title: Why bless you
date: "2001-05-26T12:00:00Z"
categories:
  - links
wp_id: 1821
description: I explore the historical origins of saying "bless you" after a sneeze, ranging from 17th-century London plague superstitions to various folkloric theories about protecting the soul from leaving the body.
keywords: [sneeze, etiquette, plague, superstitions, folklore, linguistics]
---

Why do people say "Bless you" when you sneeze? The practise may date back to the [plague in London](http://www.m-w.com/mw/textonly/wftw/97sept/93097.htm), though there are [several theories](http://www.snopes2.com/spoons/fracture/blessyou.htm).