Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1917 — SNEEZING ONCE FATAL SIGN [ARTICLE]

SNEEZING ONCE FATAL SIGN

Superstition Was the Origin of Phrase, “God Bless You!” Still Hoard In Europe. Sneezing from very remote times has been regarded with superstition. Our forefathers went to bed again if they sneezed while putting on their shoes. A sneeze to the right was deemed lucky; to the left, of evil portent. To sneeze near a burial place was very unlucky, says the London Telegraph. Tradition has it that sneezing was at first a fatal sign—every human being sneezed but once and then died — but Jacob petitioned the Creator to remove the sneezing ban and succeeded. Thence arose the once universal custom of saluting a sneezer with “God bless you!” or “May you live long!” The custom still obtains in some parts of Europe. In England not only was a sneezer blessed, but friends raised their hats to him as well. In an old book, “The Code of Conduct,” It is directed that “if his lordship sneezes ye are not to bawl out ‘God bless you!’ but bow to him handsomely." All over the world the sneeze was recognized. Whole nations were under orders to make exclamations when their king sneezed. Sneezing was believed to be a sure cure for hiccups and was also looked upon as a sign of sanity. If ancient and universal belief goes for anything It is good to sneeze.