Sneezing in Europe?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone else noticed that Europeans never sneeze into their elbows? It's only ever into their hands - and that's if you're lucky. Half of the time it's just into the air. Was recently in Spain and this grossed me out so much, especially just coming out of covid. I wonder why this is?

[Anonymous]

Never noticed. What's your sample size? I can't remember the last time I saw someone sneeze in public.

[Anonymous]

I take off my mask to sneeze.

[Anonymous]

My DH sneezes into the air. He turns his head but he doesn't cover his mouth. He was taught this way as a child because his parents said that unless you can wash your hand or change your shirt right away, it's more sanitary to just let it loose. They are relatively recent immigrants so maybe there is something to this.

This is, of course, idiotic, but it's what he was told and it's been a somewhat hard habit to break. One thing I've never understood is: why not teach him to use a handkerchief? Like I get that people might be grossed out by sneezing into your elbow. I kind of pinch my nose closed when I do it so it doesn't get everywhere, but a handkerchief would be even better because you can fold it closed and wash it later. It's nuts to me they were just like "it's most sanitary to just sneeze into the air so it can land on people's skin and food." Like, wtf?

[Anonymous]

I just saw this exact post on TikTok last week. And from what I can remember from the comments, the elbow method is mostly an American thing.

[Anonymous]

Grew up in Europe and first heard of the elbow thing when I moved here. We were always taught to sneeze into a tissue. Not sure what we were supposed to do if we didn’t have one but I think sneezing into the air with your head turned away from people rings a bell.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in a few western European countries (Germany, UK, etc) and there was no rule, other than you try not to sneeze near other people, or food, and if you have a handkerchief near at hand, you sneeze into that (my mother ALWAYS had handkerchiefs, and put little packets of them in my pockets, and taught me to carry just one inside my sleeve). So lots of heads turning away, lots of hankies. Never elbows. I learned that particular technique in the US. As a microbiologist, I have to point out that unless your nose is smack against your elbow fabric, the droplets are mostly going to go into the ambient air anyway. It's just a courtesy gesture. The most efficient technique is sneezing into a hankie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Grew up in Europe and first heard of the elbow thing when I moved here. We were always taught to sneeze into a tissue. Not sure what we were supposed to do if we didn’t have one but I think sneezing into the air with your head turned away from people rings a bell.

+1. Discovered the elbow sneezing when came to the US.

[Anonymous]

Europeans have socialized medicine and more sick leave, so aren't as worried about getting sick as we are.

[Anonymous]

I was at an ice cream shop in Germany and the cashier sneezed right into her hands, then proceeded to handle my transaction.

[Anonymous]

European here, never saw the elbow sneeze thing. My husband (American) is a big elbow sneeze guy. I don't remember and usually don't do it. I sneeze into a tissue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was at an ice cream shop in Germany and the cashier sneezed right into her hands, then proceeded to handle my transaction.

Obviously that’s gross but I don’t think it’s standard protocol in Germany or elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

I’m a 50 yr old American and I didn’t hear of the elbow sneeze method until I had school aged kids. Until then I sneezed into a tissue or my hands.

[Anonymous]

I’m a 50 yr old American and I didn’t hear of the elbow sneeze method until I had school aged kids. Until then I sneezed into a tissue or my hands.

This.
Elbow sneezing is relatively new, even here.

[Anonymous]

I’m American and the elbow method has never made sense to me. Sneezing into your hand, you can have a tissue w can be thrown away, you get better coverage, and if’s much easier to wash/sanitize hands than a sleeve. I know most of the country prefers the elbow method, but I find that repulsive and continue to cover my mouth with my hand (with a tissue whenever possible), and then I wash or sanitize my hands.