Smoking Cigars

Smoking Cigars

Is smoking cigar a vice or simply a fad? A vice is something a habit or a practice that has detrimental effect while fad is a mean of a statement and an expression. However both have the same aim of wanting to belong, to socialize and to be part of a group. Regardless whether it is fad or a vice, practice of smoking cigars has been here for so hundreds of years.

Smoking cigars started long before Christopher Columbus set foot on the Caribbean particularly in Cuba. They found that the natives were enjoying a puff from a rolled tobago, which is popularly known today as tobacco. When Columbus left Cuba on has way to Europe he brought with him not only the tobacco seeds but also the practice of smoking cigars. Among royalties and the illustrious families in Europe, smoking cigars was very popular. The practice of smoking cigar has now spread all over the world. During those times smoking cigars was not even considered a vice, since it was not known yet what are the effects of prolonged cigar smoking.

Smoking cigars is not only meant for socializing, expressing one's taste or fulfilling self- gratification, because nowadays, there are may occasion wherein smoking cigars is a must or encourage. The practice has been a way of expressing gratitude, saying thank you and congratulating for a job well done or good fortune achieved.

One of the occasions where in smoking cigars would likely happen is when a new baby is born. The origin of the practice dates back from the old tradition of the American Indians and the tradition continues up to this time. Specialized cigars are now made with color codes. The color is blue if it is a boy while pink for girls. They also bear the words "it's a boy / it's a girl. Proud parents give cigars to their friends as they celebrate the coming of a new baby.

Another occasion where smoking cigars is a known way of celebrating is wedding. It has been a tradition among American families to smoke cigars during weddings. It is their way of enjoying good life and new family life. The groom also gives his groomsmen a pack of good cigar as a way of expressing gratitude.

Cigar smoking is truly one way of bonding with friends and families, but over exposure to the smoke or a prolonged consumption of tobacco could be detrimental to one's health. Many diseases have been implicated to cigar smoking, while tobacco itself is considered as the second cause of death in the world. Millions have been recorded to be suffering from all sorts of cancers and cardiovascular diseases among others which are cigar smoking related.

Having this in mind the question still remains. Is smoking a vice or a fad? The choice is yours.