Folks are pretty sophisticated these days. Long gone are the superstitious worries about what medical or metaphysical complications might be unleashed from a bout of sneezing. Not too many people believe that their soul will fly from their body when they sneeze or that sneezing will leave behind a soul-less vacuum for evil spirits to come on in and get cozy. They know that a simple sneeze will not stop a beating heart, and that they probably could keep their eyes open while sneezing, given enough effort. Most of all, though, it's all about what you know these days—and who doesn't get a big kick out of showing off a mastery of the latest trivia.
Ballads and Bubbles of Plague
Take, for example the classic children's song, "Ring Around the Rosie." Now, everyone knows that it's not as kid-friendly as it seems—that it is actually a grim little ditty about death—and sneezing. Sneezing as a symptom of the bubonic plague, that is.
Muted and muddled as it's been passed from person to chanting person across the span of 1,400 years, the original end-lyrics were not "ashes, ashes, we all fall down" but "a-choo a-choo, we all fall down." Back in those days, people believed that sneezing was an early sign of impending plague. Medical technology and understanding has improved a bit since then, though, and the Centers for Disease Control does not list sneezing among plague symptoms.
A Graceful Edict
However, in 590 A.D., when Pope Gregory ascended to the papacy, his first order of business was to try to provide some relief to a panicked and plague-stricken Rome which had just lost its previous leader, Pope Pelasius II to the dreaded Black Death. Pope Gregory offered the best hope he knew—prayer. As the vigils began, the streets filled with parades of the faithful chanting "Lord have mercy," and Pope Gregory decreed that the correct response to any sneeze were the words "God bless you," thus offering some level of protection to both the sneezer and the sneezed-upon.
Gregory's decision "went viral," (pardon the pun) and cemented a casual, though unfounded, courtesy that had been in place since around 77 A.D. That blessings are bequeathed upon the nasally irritated here in North America is, today, just part of the conscription to a larger global etiquette. South of the border, sneezers are more likely to hear "¡Salud!" (health). Traveling the world with a cold may also bring blessings like "alhamdulilah" (Arabic for "praise be to God), "á vos souhaits" ("to your wishes" in France) or the Irish "dia leat" (God be with you).
Though rare today, the bubonic plague can still, within a mere four to seven days, claim a frightening half of all the lives it touches. It is curable if treated early, though, so if you happen to stumble across some poor, sneezing (or more likely, coughing) soul with rings around his rosies, by all means, do offer your blessings—then offer directions to the nearest emergency room.
Sources:
Brody, J. (1983.) Gesundheit! Sneezing Gets a Big Reaction. The New York Times, June 22. Electronic document.
Mikkelson, B. (2007.) Bless You! Snopes.com. Electronic document.
Shmerling, R. (2004.) Medical Myths: Does a Sneeze Mean Disease? IntelliHealth.com. Electronic document.
Straight Dope Science Advisory Board. (2001.) Why do we say "God Bless You" After a Sneeze? StraightDope.com. Electronic document.
Unknown. (2003-2005.) Bless You. NationMaster.com. Electronic document.
Watson, S. (2009.) Why do we say 'Bless You' or 'Gesundheit' When People Sneeze? HowStuffWorks.com. Electronic document.
