Avoid the shortest of three candles...

​It is said that the actor standing closest to the shortest of a trio of lit candles on stage must beware; they will be the first to die.  For this reason, even today, it is rare to see a trio of candles lit on stage.  As with most theatrical superstitions, this one can be traced back centuries.  While it is uncertain why this superstition weirdly singles out the actor standing closest to the shortest candle, the historical concern for lighting a bunch of candles in a theatre likely had a solid basis in the fear of burning down the theatre.   Over the years, hundreds of theatres have burned to the ground, some theatres numerous times in the same location.  Perhaps, given the abundance of theatre ghosts, this superstition is understandable. 

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