Humans are not the only ones to yawn, animals yawn too. However, with the exception of certain high order animals like the chimpanzees, animals don’t manifest contagious yawning. Certain cultures ascribe superstitions to the act of yawning. The most common of these is the belief that it is necessary to cover one's mouth when one is yawning in order to prevent one's soul from escaping the body. The Ancient Greeks believed that yawning was not a sign of bor
edom, but that a person's soul was trying to escape from its body, so as to rest with the gods in the skies. This belief was also shared by the Mayans. Several superstitions have been concocted regarding the act of yawning and the harm that the act can do to the individual yawning.
Humans are not the only ones to yawn, animals yawn too. However, with the exception of certain high order animals like the chimpanzees, animals don’t manifest contagious yawning. Certain cultures ascribe superstitions to the act of yawning. The most common of these is the belief that it is necessary to cover one's mouth when one is yawning in order to prevent one's soul from escaping the body. The Ancient Greeks believed that yawning was not a sign of bor
edom, but that a person's soul was trying to escape from its body, so as to rest with the gods in the skies. This belief was also shared by the Mayans. Several superstitions have been concocted regarding the act of yawning and the harm that the act can do to the individual yawning.
this topic is amazing. i've never thought that covering one's outh when yawning was used as an attempt for preventing a soul from escaping the body. just one question Linda, do all animals yawn or only certain group of them?
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