SUPERSTITION

When someone sneezes, we say "Bless You."

LORE & SOURCES

Tiberius Caesar in AD 150 would ride around in his chariot and shout "Bless you" to any member of the public that sneezed, and "Bless you, bless you my dear" to the second and third sneezes.

Evidently the offer of blessing arose from a serious disease that attacked the early Romans in which sneezing was one of the main symptoms. Sufferers frequently died as a result, although it was believed that the more blessings offered, the less likely the chance of death.

It was also thought to be a form of well-wishing. "God bless you" and "God keep you" were offering of good health and care to those that sneezed.

Sneezing was also common among sufferers of the bubonic plague during the Middle Ages in Europe, and so the custom of blessing the sneezer continues to this day as a worthy precaution.

If you sneeze on Monday, you sneeze in danger;
Sneeze on Tuesday, kiss a stranger;
Sneeze on Wednesday, sneeze for a letter;
Sneeze on Thursday, something better;
Sneeze on Friday, sneeze for sorrow;
Sneeze on Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow;
Sneeze on Sunday, and the devil will have domination over you all week!

God would certainly need to bless the hay fever sufferer!