“Bless you.” “Gesundheit.” “Salud.” “Na zdraví.” Across cultures, sneezing almost never goes unnoticed. Even today, people instinctively respond when someone sneezes, as if silence would be inappropriate. That reaction isn’t accidental. For thousands of years, sneezing has been linked to the soul, luck, fate, health, and even messages from beyond.
While modern medicine explains sneezing as a physical reflex, folklore tells a much richer story. Here’s how sneezing superstitions developed around the world and what people once believed those sudden explosions of air really meant.
Why Sneezing Was Once Considered Dangerous
In many early cultures, sneezing was feared because it was thought the soul could momentarily leave the body. This belief appears repeatedly across Europe and parts of Asia.
In old German folklore, it was believed that when a person sneezed, their soul briefly exited the body, leaving it vulnerable. Saying “Gesundheit” was meant to protect the person and prevent evil forces from entering during that moment.
Medieval England shared a similar belief. Saying “Bless you” was not polite habit, but spiritual protection. The blessing was thought to force the soul safely back where it belonged.
Blessings After Sneezing Around the World
Different cultures developed their own phrases and gestures to counteract whatever danger sneezing might bring.
In early England, people would remove their hats and bow slightly while offering a blessing. Some Christians crossed themselves and quietly said “Bless me.”
In parts of Africa, people said phrases equivalent to “Far from you!” while making gestures to push away harm. Others used expressions like “Save you!” to call for protection.
In Samoa, the phrase used after a sneeze translates to “Life to you,” directly linking sneezing to survival and vitality.
Sneezing and Babies: Breaking Spells and Omens
Sneezing played a major role in beliefs surrounding newborns.
In Scotland, it was believed that a baby was under fairy influence until it sneezed for the first time. That first sneeze was thought to break the spell and return the child fully to the human world.
Midwives even carried snuff to induce sneezing if it didn’t happen naturally. However, during baptism, a baby sneezing was sometimes considered a bad omen, suggesting restlessness or interference.
Sneezing as a Sign of Truth
In the Czech Republic, sneezing has long been associated with honesty. If someone sneezes during a conversation, it’s taken as confirmation that what was just said is true.
People often respond with “Je to pravda,” meaning “It’s true.” This belief reflects the idea that the body reacts instinctively when truth is spoken aloud.
Sneezing and Fertility Beliefs
Some sneezing superstitions took surprising turns. A Roman-era myth claimed that if a woman sneezed at the moment of orgasm, pregnancy would not occur. While there’s no logic behind it, the belief shows how deeply sneezing was woven into ideas about the body and fate.
Sneezing and Travel Omens
Sneezing was once believed to predict the outcome of journeys, especially at sea. If a sailor sneezed on the starboard side as a ship departed, it was considered a sign of a safe and fortunate voyage. Sneezing on the port side, however, suggested storms or trouble ahead. Because travel was risky, people looked for any sign that might hint at what awaited them.
Everyday Sneezing Omens
Many sneezing superstitions focused on daily life and future events:
- Sneezing near a grave was believed to bring bad luck.
- Sneezing in the morning before breakfast meant a gift would arrive before the weekend.
- Sneezing before getting out of bed on Sunday was thought to predict an upcoming wedding.
- Sneezing three times in a row was considered a sign of good luck.
- If a sick person sneezed, recovery was believed to be near.
- It was considered unlucky for a bride or groom to sneeze during a wedding ceremony.
Animals and Sneezing Superstitions
Even animals weren’t left out of sneezing folklore. If a household cat sneezed three times, it was believed the family would soon catch colds. At other times, a cat sneezing was seen as a sign of rain on the way.
Counting Sneezes to Predict the Future
One of the most charming sneezing superstitions involves counting sneezes. An old rhyme assigns meaning to each one:
One for a kiss, two for a wish,
Three for a letter, four for a better,
Five for silver, six for gold,
Seven for a secret never to be told.
This rhyme turned an involuntary reflex into a playful form of fortune-telling.
Why Sneezing Superstitions Still Exist
Sneezing superstitions survived because sneezing is sudden, uncontrollable, and impossible to ignore. Long before science offered explanations, people needed meaning.
These beliefs helped make sense of illness, luck, truth, and uncertainty. Even today, saying “bless you” happens almost automatically, a habit rooted in centuries of fear, care, and protection. Sneezing may be ordinary now, but its symbolic past is anything but.
