Theater Superstition - Unlucky Rule of Three

Superstition: Having three lit candles onstage is bad luck.

While it is adhering to the "rule of three" having lit three candles on stage is considered bad luck. It is said that the person nearest to the shortest candle will be the next to marry, or the next to die. Before electric lights were commonplace in theater, the stage was lit by candles, although this is not the origin of the superstition - the unlucky candles had to be on the stage (i.e. - part of the set). Logic prevails on this one as with dim lighting, busy people and highly flammable fresh paint on the set, you are running the risk of burning down the theater.