There are many cultures around the world. Thousands of languages, cultures, and religions dominate each continent, nation, and even a local town or village. Among the many aspects that reflect cultural differences, the response to a sneeze within each culture proves to be very intriguing.

A prevailing majority of cultures respond to a sneeze by saying words like, “God bless you” or “Health,” including European and Arabian cultures. “Bless you,” or “Gesundheit” (an obscure way of responding to a sneeze; means “health” in German), is used in English-speaking nations such as United States, Great Britain, and Australia. Other European countries have similar practices. For example, the Dutch sneeze-listeners say, “Gezondheid” (“health” in Dutch), the French “vos souhaits” (“to your loves” in French), the Georgian “Itsotskhle” (“live long” in Georgian), the Italian “Salute” (“health” in Italian). European cultures are among the cultures that do respond to a sneeze.

Middle Eastern and Indus cultures also have the practice of responding to a sneeze. Persian speakers say “Afiat Bahsheh” (“May purity be bestowed upon you”). Arabic speakers say “Sahna” (“Health”). Though considered different languages, members of the Arabic language group overall have it a norm of responding to a sneeze. Similarly, Indian cultures such as Gujarati, Punjabi, and Hindi customarily respond to a sneeze with words meaning “Truth,” “May you be blessed,” etc. Indian, Middle Eastern, European, and American cultures all customarily respond to a sneeze, revealing people’s good will to wish well for others.

Although most cultures have a response to a sneeze, East Asian cultures, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese cultures, do not have such a custom. For instance, in Japanese culture, it is the norm not to respond to a sneeze; it is normal to have an “awkward” (to Westerners) silence after a sneeze. Chinese and Korean cultures similarly do not have the practice of responding to a sneeze. It is one of the possible reasons why Asians seem emotionally detached and indifferent to people from other cultures. Such a fascinating contrast exists between how people of some cultures feel it necessary to say something to a person who sneezes, while others from a different culture feel it weird to respond to someone’s sneeze.

Distinct and varied, cultures around the world are extremely engrossing subjects. A culture of responding a sneeze reveals a seemingly trivial but very entertaining example of cultural differences.