Salud vs. Jesus

In Spain a simple sneeze can reveal much about a person and about society. This bodily outburst will often speak volumes about the personal beliefs and values of a person. A sneeze at my house is always followed by a chorus of “Saluds.” However, if this same sneeze were to sound out in the tourism office, more likely than not, it would be followed by a “Jesus” or two. Unlike in the United States, there are two responses to a sneeze, one traditional and rooted in religion, and another which is more secular. This duality hints at the deeper divide in Spanish society, which can still be traced back to the Spanish Civil War. Two social groups emerged from this conflict, those in favor of a more traditional or religious set of values, and those in favor of a more secular society. I don’t mean to say that replying to a sneeze with a friendly “Jesus” makes you a Franquista, but the fact that two options do exit does point to a difference in values. But from my personal experience, when I hear “Salud” is often the reply I hear from my secular family, and “Jesus” from my religious coworker.