UDM HOME BLACKBOARD MY UDMERCY

RESEARCH HOME / FIND / SPECIAL COLLECTIONS / THE JAMES T. CALLOW FOLKLORE ARCHIVE /

James Callow Folklore Archive

Collection Home

About Dr. James T. Callow

Dr. James T. Callow publications

Browse by

Subject heading

Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.

The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Content filter is on

I COLLECTED THIS 3/8/67 WHILE TUTORING JIM. WHEN HE SNEEZED,
I REPLIED "BLESS YOU." THIS WAS HIS EXPLANATION OF WHY
PEOPLE SAY "BLESS YOU" AFTER SOMEONE SNEEZES.
IT WAS BELIEVED THAT WHEN A PERSON SNEEZED, EVIL SPIRITS
CAME OUT OF HIS MOUTH. TO PREVENT THESE SPIRITS FROM
RE-ENTERING THE PERSON, ONE WOULD SAY "BLESS YOU."

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Subject headings:

BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color
SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 03-08-1967

University of Detroit Mercy

4001 W. McNichols Detroit , MI , 48221-3038

This site is endorsed by the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) and supports the views, values, and mission of UDM. The University of Detroit Mercy web site provides links to other web sites, both public and private, for informational purposes. The inclusion of these links on UDM's site does not imply endorsement by the University. Please contact the Associate Dean for Technical Services and Library Systems for any questions regarding this web site.