What do people in your country do when someone sneezes?

What is ‘bless you’ in your language?

When we are very young we learn manners from our parents. For example, it is rude to cough without covering our mouths. We say thank you when people give us things like money or cake. When someone sneezes we say bless you.

Why do we do this?

We do not know where this peculiar ritual comes from. There are records of saying this from as early as the year 77. We know that people tended to acknowledge sneezes as a sign of good health. Greeks and Romans would say phrases like live long and may Jupiter bless you.

But that positive message changed with Pope Gregory I. This was when Europe was experiencing the Black Death, in the 6th century. Sneezing was a symptom of sickness. The Pope thought it would be good manners to say God bless you.

There was also a popular myth that the heart would stop while sneezing. People may have said bless you so your heart would continue beating rather than stop.

Some cultures thought evil spirits could be shared during a sneeze.

However it has come about that it is good manners to say ‘bless you’ after you sneeze. People think it is bad etiquette not to say ‘bless you’ after you sneeze.

Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. Some of the answers are very close and have similar meaning. The meaning of these words is how they are used in the reading. Some of these words have different meanings in the dictionary depending on how they are used.

 The answers are below the table.

A-4, B=1, C=8, D=7, E=2, F=5, G=3, H=6

Some example sentences using the new words or phrases from the meaning of how they are used in the reading to help you understand better.

1. He was a peculiar man. He like to wear a yellow suit.

2. It is a ritual in Korea for people to visit their hometown at Chewsok.

3. In polluted cities there is a tendency to wear masks.

4. Please acknowledge that you agree by raising your hand.

5. A headache and sneezing is a symptom of a cold.

6. A popular myth is that if you shake your leg you will have bad luck.

7. It came about that everyone on the school trip got sick from the food.

8. It is good etiquette to let older people sit down on the subway.

    

    

    

    

Some questions using the new words/phrases. Try to use the words/phrases in your answer.

1. Do you think saying ‘bless you’ is peculiar when someone sneezes? What is peculiar in your country?

2. Why is saying ‘bless you’ not a ritual in Korea?

3. What do people tend to do when someone sneezes in your country or culture?

4. What is acknowledged as a sign of good health in your culture?

5. Describe a sickness. What are some symptoms of it?

6. Describe a myth in your culture? How did it come about?

7. What etiquette is important in Korea? Why?