Sneeze

A sternutation or, more commonly known, sneeze is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the nose and mouth. This air can reach speeds of 100-200 mph and an unimpeded sneeze sends two to five thousand bacteria-filled droplets into the air.

Sneezing is generally caused by irritation in the passages of the nose. Allergens such as pollens, pet dander, house dust mites, as well as nonallergenic particles are usually harmless, but when they irritate the nose the body responds by expelling them from the nasal passages. The nose mistakes strong odors, sudden chills, bright lights (see photic sneeze reflex), and even orgasms in some people for nasal irritants, and it tries to defend itself with a sneeze.

It is almost impossible for one to keep one's eyelids open during a sneeze, although some rare individuals report having little if any trouble doing so. The reflex of shutting the eyes serves no obvious purpose: the nerves serving the eyes and the nose are closely related, and stimuli to the one often trigger some response in the other. The closing of the eyes may be to protect the tear ducts and blood vessels from bacteria expelled in the sneeze.

Beliefs about sneezing

In 400 BC the Athenian general Xenophon gave a dramatic oration exhorting his fellow soldiers to follow him to liberty or to death against the Persians. He spoke for an hour motivating his army and assuring them a safe return to Athenian until a soldier underscored his conclusion with a sneeze. Thinking this sneeze a favorable sign from the gods, the soldiers bowed before Xenophon and followed his command. Another divine moment of sneezing for the Greeks occurs in the story of Odysseus. Odysseus returns home disguised as a beggar and talks with his waiting lover Penelope. She says to Odysseus, not knowing to whom she speaks, that he will return safely to challenge her suitors. At that moment their son sneezes loudly and Penelope laughs with joy, reassured that it is a sign from the gods.^*

Among the pagans of Flanders, a sneeze was an omen. When Saint Eligius warned the pagans against their druidical practices, according to his companion and biographer Ouen, he included the following: "Do not observe auguries or violent sneezing or pay attention to any little birds singing along the road. If you are distracted on the road or at any other work, make the sign of the cross and say your Sunday prayers with faith and devotion and nothing inimical can hurt you."

In Hungary and Slovenia, a sneeze that occurs after making a statement is sometimes interpreted as a confirmation by God that the statement was true.

It is a common belief in India and Pakistan that someone who sneezes remembers or is remembered by someone dear to him or her. Most Indians consider sneezing healthy, and the inability to sneeze to be cause for alarm. Psychology Today reports that Indian scientists have labeled an inability to sneeze "asneezia"; the people of India have long used snuff as a way to artificially induce sneezing.

According to an old Japanese belief, sneezing twice in a row is a sign that someone is talking about you.

Traditional responses to a sneeze

In English-speaking countries, it is common for at least one person to say "Bless you" after someone sneezes. Its origins are unclear, but it has been cited as far back in Western culture as 150 CE in Apuleius' "The Golden Ass." One story is that since the final stage of the Black Plague was sneezing, anyone who sneezed was thought to be at death's door and was blessed for the ascension into heaven.

In other languages

In Spanish-speaking cultures, sneezing is usually followed by replying "Salud", ("Health").

In Brazilian-Portuguese, sneezing is usually followed by replying "Saúde", ("Health").

In German, Gesundheit (meaning "health [to you") is common, but it is also used in English-speaking countries.

In Hebrew, "לבריאות" (Labriyut, meaning "to good health).

In Poland the common response "Sto lat" translates as "100 Hundred Years", wishing 100 hundred years of health to the sneezer.

Sneezing in Scandinavian countries is usually replied to with prosit ("may it benefit" in Latin). In Finland, however, the reply is usually terveydeksi ("for your good health"). This is similar to Ghana, where a sneeze is often responded to with the wish for "Good luck!"

In some parts of India the response to a sneeze is "Live well!". In South India, especially in Kerala, it is customary to bless the sneezer. Often older people will say Ayyappa (the name of a Hindu god) or ammey ("mother" in Kerala and Tamil Nadu) after sneezing or after hearing someone sneeze, and they will tell the sneezer that someone dear to him or her is talking about them at that moment. In some parts of South India there is a superstition that it is a bad omen if someone sneezes just before someone is leaving for an errand, mission or task. Consequently, people often wait a while before beginning their intended mission.

Similarly in Hong Kong, it is said that if you sneeze once or twice, someone is talking or gossiping about you. If you sneeze three times, then you are probably catching a cold.

The response in Turkey to a sneeze is similar to that in India. People often say 'May you have a long life,' or 'Live well,' and the response is 'We'll all, together' or 'You too will be able to see me living long.'

In Islamic society, a sneezer generally thanks God by saying Alhamdulillah ("Praise be to God"), since Islam encourages remembering God in all situations. This is usually responded to with Yarhamukallah ("May God bestow his mercy on you") by anyone in earshot of the sneezer.

In Chinese culture, a sneeze is a sign that someone is thinking about you and you might hear some one say you ren xiang ni, which translates into "someone is thinking about you".

In French-speaking countries, the response to a sneeze will usually be "A tes souhaits", which literally means "To your wishes", or in other words, "May your wishes come true".

In the Japanese culture, when one sneezes, one is given 3 wishes by the nearest Bon Master.

Nursery rhymes associated with sneezing

Sneezing has also inspired superstition-laden nursery rhymes:

Sneeze on Monday for health,

Sneeze on Tuesday for wealth,

Sneeze on Wednesday for a letter,

Sneeze on Thursday for something better,

Sneeze on Friday for sorrow,

Sneeze on Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow,

Sneeze on Sunday, safety seek.

and the similar rhyme...

Sneeze on Monday, you sneeze for danger,

Sneeze on Tuesday, kiss a stranger,

Sneeze on Wednesday, sneeze for a letter,

Sneeze on Thursday, something better,

Sneeze on Friday, sneeze for sorrow,

Sneeze on Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow,

One for sorrow

Two for joy

Three for a girl

Four for a boy.

Five for silver

Six for gold

Seven for a secret, never to be told.

This second nursery rhyme has also been used of European Magpies.

One for a wish

Two for a kiss

Three for a letter

Four for something better.

Or a variation:

One's a wish

Two's a kiss

Three's a disappointment;

Four's a letter

Five's something better

And six is a drop of ointment.

In Spanish-speaking countries, when children sneeze the following is said:

One sneeze: Salud (To your health)

Two sneezes: Salud y dinero (To your health and wealth)

Three sneezes: Salud, dinero y amor (To your health, wealth and love)

Four sneezes: Salud, dinero, amor, y alergias (To your health, wealth, love, and allergies)

In French-speaking countries, sneezing is accompanied by the following phrases:

One sneeze: À vos souhaits (To your wishes)

Two sneezes: À vos rêves (To your dreams)

Three sneezes: À vos amours (To your loved ones)

Folk remedies

Folk remedies for sneezing are common. Among them are the following:

Apply upward pressure to the bottom of your nose.
Tickle or press against the top of your mouth with your tongue.
Looking up with your eyes but not your head.
Gently bite your upper lip. The sensation will distract your nose nerves and your desire to sneeze will greatly lessen.
Hold open your eyelid. As previously mentioned, it is almost impossible to sneeze with your eyelids open.
Holding your breath for long enough when one feels a sneeze coming will usually prevent a sneeze. Sneezing requires air to expel, and simply eliminating the air until the nervous response goes away means no sneeze. This is immensely preferable to blocking the nose, which can result in damage to the delicate structures of the inner ears, or redirecting the sneeze through your mouth, which can result in the oral ejection of phlegm and saliva.
Squeezing the bridge of the nose
Look at a bright light. (In some people this will not work as with the photic sneeze reflex bright lights are sneezing triggers)
Swallow your saliva when you feel the sneeze coming. Do this repeatedly until the feeling goes away.

References

^*- Elaine Fantham, Professor of Classics at Princeton on NPR Radio.

Beliefs about sneezing

Traditional responses to a sneeze

In other languages

Nursery rhymes associated with sneezing

Folk remedies

See also

References

Further reading

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Sneeze

Beliefs about sneezing

Traditional responses to a sneeze

In other languages

Nursery rhymes associated with sneezing

Folk remedies

See also

References

Further reading