Can anyone tell me why I have to say Bless You everytime someone sneezes on my face? Bakit “Bless You“? Saan na namang bansa natin ginaya iyan? Why can’t it be “Excuse me”, “Go Away from Me” or “F…You” kasi sneezing could be a warning sign that that person has the sipun virus, at hahawahan nya ‘ko. Instead of saying Bless You to virus scatterers and carriers sneezing around us, we should say Bless you to people who are coughing kasi baka may tiberyok (TB) na yun or lung cancer, they need more the blessing.
I think it should really be the other way around.
Atchooo—– “Go away, come again another day”
Ubu ubo —- “Bless you, I’ll pray for you”
If I remember correctly, in the past it was believed that when one sneezes, the soul is expelled temporarily or the heart stops albeit temporarily. Thus, one states “Bless you” to ward off the devil. Nowadays, stating “Bless you” when a person sneezes is merely a sign of good manners or social graces.