To say bless you to strangers?!

[Imknackeredzzz]

I'm starting to wonder if this is just me being over polite, or am I going against etiquette.

A couple of times recently I've been out and about and someone has sneezed. If I am nearby I've instinctively said "bless you" without really thinking.

recently I've been getting strange looks from people for doing this. Is this now a really odd thing to do?! I always was brought up to do this and assumed it was the polite thing to do.

Please advise me if I shouldn't be doing this, or should you just say "bless you" to those you know?! Or not at all

I'm confused

I think it just depends Chased

If you're im Sainsbury's and being served and 'would you like any help with your packing?' sneeze 'excuse me! No, thanks!' 'Bless you!' that's fine.

But if I was in Sainsbury's quietly selecting veg and turned my head away to do a discrete sneeze and someone came up to me to say 'bless you' I wouldn't find it rude exactly but I wouldn't be thrilled either!

I have on occasions. A subtle way of saying 'use a handkerchief!'

I don't mind people I know saying it but find it a bit embarrassing if strangers do, I'd rather they just ignored it. I'm happy to chat with strangers generally though.

I thought this post was from a vicar.

I have had random people say "bless you" to me when I have sneezed and find it a nice affirmation of wishing me well; similarly I have said it to others as I was raised that it was polite to wish them health and I will continue to do so.
I am not religious but use religious terminology with the good will it was intended.

I think finding it rude that a stranger wishes you to be well is sad.

I say it to strangers and I'm not at all religious.

I guess gesundheit would be more appropriate (and is closer to what I actually mean by it) but I've always said bless you and I do it without thinking.

People sometimes ignore me and sometimes they say thank you.

I had one odd lady the other day who sneezed on the bus and blessed herself rude so she didn't need my blessings!

Yes, pinkandwhite if someone's trying to be discreet and are crouched over worried they might suddenly have given themselves a handful of snot, I tend to pretend I didn't hear the sneeze!