I was in Migros yesterday, trying to figure out when my wardrobe would be delivered (it's been three weeks!) The guy behind the desk sneezed and by reflex I say "Gesundheit!"
He looked at me like I had two heads. Crap. Had I just done something offensive, again?
I grew up in a home with a Germanic Grandfather, a Swedish Grandfather, and French Grandmother. Everyone said it. Of course, it was America, so who knows?
I was once eating Chinese in Scotland. After the meal (we had had more than enough to drink) we asked the waiter if he would be bringing the fortune cookies soon? He said, "This is Scotland." ?? I always thought fortune cookies were Chinese, but it's an American thing we do with Chinese food only.
My question is: Is Gesundheit the same thing? What do they say in Switzerland?
No, you're fine. People who just happen to be near the sneezer - walking by, sitting in the same train compartment, etc. - aren't obligated to say "Gesundheit" but it's certainly not offensive if they do. (The older generation are more likely to in my experience.)
I reckon the funny look you got was probably the poor guy trying to suppress a second sneeze! I wouldn't give it another thought.
It's one of those things, like a superstition - like "Knock on Wood" (which, by the way, has a story as well if you want to hear why that one is said...)
According to my Grandma, you say Gesundheit to the person to keep Bad Sickness spirits from running up their nose. I heard it's to say "Good Health" and to keep bad spirits away.
I've heard the same (about "bless you" in English)...
According to Wikipedia:
"The practice of blessing someone who sneezes, dating as far back as at least 77 AD, however, is far older than most specific explanations can account for. Gregory I became Pope in 590 AD as an outbreak of the bubonic plague was reaching Rome. In hopes of fighting off the disease, he ordered unending prayer and parades of chanters through the streets. At the time, sneezing was thought to be an early symptom of the plague. The blessing ("God bless you!") became a common effort to halt the disease."
At work we have open plan office. If it happens that somebody sneezes, the alarm always goes off and they'll put her/him immediately in quarantine... Just kidding
Normally, as dude to dude we avoid such niceties but trouble is that there is one female workmate across my desk and she always replies Gesundheit to everyone's sneeze. Automatically, the whole office interrupts tasks and turns to you with loud "Gesundheit!" Sometimes it's embarrassing because when your have a running nose, caugh and you choke with mucus, immediately all eyes on you. So I try to hold it
To answer the OP's question, on the contrary it is very polite and it shows person's good manners. Bless you!
As usual, Jimmy arrives late for school. The teacher has a cold, and sneezes a lot. The custom is that when that happens, all the students get up and say: “Bless you, teacher”.
But this morning, because the sneezing does not stop, the teacher has asked his class to dispense with the practice.
So Jimmy sits down, unaware of the new rule. The teacher sneezes, Jimmy gets up, and says loudly, without realizing he is the only one standing up: “Die, you bastard”.
[QUOTE=twomatot;2209318]I was in Migros yesterday, trying to figure out when my wardrobe would be delivered (it's been three weeks!) The guy behind the desk sneezed and by reflex I say "Gesundheit!"
He looked at me like I had two heads. Crap. Had I just done something offensive, again?
I grew up in a home with a Germanic Grandfather, a Swedish Grandfather, and French Grandmother. Everyone said it. Of course, it was America, so who knows?
I was once eating Chinese in Scotland. After the meal (we had had more than enough to drink) we asked the waiter if he would be bringing the fortune cookies soon? He said, "This is Scotland." ?? I always thought fortune cookies were Chinese, but it's an American thing we do with Chinese food only.
My question is: Is Gesundheit the same thing? What do they say in Switzerland?[/QUOTE
I was born in the late fifties in southern England and raised by an Irish mother; I learned to say gesundheit whenever anyone sneezed long before I had any idea what the word actually meant! I don't know why that was the accepted word, but am pretty certain I wasn't the only brat in Berkshire using that expression.
It's only after moving to Switzerland that I'm now in the habit of saying 'Sante' (health) instead.
I've never had anyone react badly because I've wished them well after sneezing, your good manners probably just took him by surprise.
In The UK it's typically considered impolite to not say "bless you" when someone sneezes, and people will often complain about it. It's not required amongst complete strangers in public spaces, but people usually do it anyway.
In France ( and Belgium) it's more usual to say à vos souhaits ( or à tes souhaits for good friends and family) whereas in Switzerland santé is the more usual expression.