SNEEZES
 
 
Sneeze on Monday, sneeze for danger; 
Sneeze on Tuesday, kiss a stranger; 
Sneeze on Wednesday, receive a letter; 
Sneeze on Thursday, something better; 
Sneeze on Friday, sneeze for sorrow; 
Sneeze on Saturday, see your lover tomorrow; 
Sneeze on Sunday, your safety seek, o the Devil will have you for the rest of 
the week.

When you sneeze friends are apt to say "God bless you" or the German expression 
"Gesundheit." The custom of asking for God's blessing began when early man 
believed that the essence of life, the spirit or soul, was in the form of air or 
breath and resided within one's head. A sneeze might accidentally expel the 
spirit for a short time or even forever, unless God prevented it. 

Asking for God's blessing or bowing toward the sneezer was counter-magic. For it 
meant, "May your soul not escape." 

There were some ancients who believed that evil spirits which had previously 
entered the body, jumped out when one sneezed. This meant danger for others, for 
spirits might now enter their bodies. So the blessing was to protect others as 
well as the one who sneezed.