A
mini-investigation into the origins of a bizarre myth.
There are all
sorts ofluck-related legends surrounding smoking. Some
people turn one cigarette upside down in each new pack they buy, making it
“lucky.” Others believe that lighting three or more cigarettes on the same
match will bring on bad luck. And then there’s the notion that using a white
lighter is supremely unlucky, a superstition that has managed to thrive among
smokers of all kinds despite being, well, pretty silly.
Even in 2017, it’s not uncommon to encounter smokers who
not only won’t purchase white lighters, but won’t use them to light things even
if they belong to someone else. Some people don’t even like being in the room
when one is being used. But how did this legend get started in the first place?
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