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Old 12-13-2003, 10:11 AM   #21 (permalink)
Semi-Normal
Insane
 
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
I was taught at primary school that saying "bless you" when someone sneezes originated in the Middle Ages when the Black Death was decimating the population of Europe; sneezing was a symptom of the plague, so when someone sneezed you blessed them as some sort of protection from the plague.

Personally, I never say "bless you", and other than my mother, I can't think of anyone I know who does. I never say anything in response, though I guess it probably would be polite to. But then as I said, no-one ever says it to me (maybe they want me to die of the plague for having such bad manners ) so it's a non-issue in the end.
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