ON SNEEZING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 5, 30 January 1892, Page 113

ON SNEEZING.

To sneeze when you are ill is regarded as a happy omen, though the chronicles of the Jewish rabbis tell us that before the time of Jacob men never sneezed but once and then died. The sneeze was regarded as a mortal symptom ; now it is known to be an effort of nature to throw off any abnormal feeling or influence in the system. It is said to be a ‘ bad sign ’ to sneeze when you are putting on yonr shoe in the morning. St. Austin tells us that the ancients went to bed again whenever they sneezed while putting on a shoe. The Greek historian on the contrary- says, when a general sneezed before a battle, it was an omen of victory. During the prevalence of the terrible plague in Italy in the seventh century, Pope Gregory the Great enjoined on the friends of the stricken ones to say ‘ God bless you !’ whenever the patient sneezed. This custom is believed to have been originated by Pope Gregory ; but, in fact, it was in use among the Romans seventy years before Christ. A similar formula was found among the Florida Indians, as De Soto records. When the chief Guachozzo paid De Soto a visit, he sneezed while talking with him, and his followers immediately gathered around him and chanted, * May the Sun guard thee, enlighten thee, and save thee !’ The rhyme about the signs for sneezing on different days is of English origin, and runs thus : 'Sneeze on Monday, sneeze for danger ; Sneeze on Tuesday, kiss a stranger ; Sneeze on Wednesday, have a letter ; Sneeze on Thursday, something better ; Sneeze on Friday, expect sorrow ; Sneeze on Saturday, gav to-morrow ; Sneeze on Sunday, on Monday borrow : Sneeze on Sunday morning fasting. Y’our love will love you to everlasting.