The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A MATCH LEGEND

THE THIRD PERSON TO TAKE A LIGHT OF A CIGARETTE FROM A MATCH WILL
DIE. THIS SUPERSTITION AROSE IN W.W. II WHEN SOLDIERS IN FOX
HOLES BECAME AFRAID OF A NEW TYPE OF MISSILE THAT WAS ATTRACTED BY
HEAT. THEY SUPPOSED THAT BY THE THIRD CIGARETTE ENOUGH HEAT
WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN OFF TO ATTRACT A MISSILE AND KILL THEM.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM A HISTORY TEACHER IN SCHOOL.