The first person a traveler encounters on their journey determines whether their trip will bring good or bad fortune.

First Encounter on a Journey: A Sign of Luck

Details

This superstition holds that as a traveler departs on a journey, the first individual they meet may signal what lies ahead: good fortune or misfortune. In some variants, specific types of people—such as a priest, pregnant woman, or someone carrying an empty bucket—are seen as inauspicious, while others, such as a man carrying full bags or a child, may be considered lucky omens. Some travelers might delay or alter their departure if the first encounter is deemed unlucky.

Practices include:
• Observing who is first seen upon leaving home.
• Refraining from travel or pausing briefly to change fate if the encounter is perceived as negative.
• Seeking blessings or performing a small ritual before meeting anyone.

Historical Context

This belief appears in multiple global traditions. In Indian culture, it relates to the concept of ‘Shakun’ (omens), where directional movement and first sightings dictate auspiciousness. In old Russian and Eastern European folklore, meeting certain archetypes—such as an old woman—was seen as a sign of bad weather or eventful travel. Similar beliefs were held among seafarers and merchants in medieval times, where luck impacted both trade and safety.

Such superstitions arise from a time when travel was dangerous and unpredictable. Interpreting early signs was a way to gain psychological reassurance or adjust one’s course based on perceived universal signals.

Modern Relevance

While not widely observed in modern urban societies, some rural communities in South Asia and Eastern Europe continue to observe these omens. In India, even today, travelers might postpone or re-time a journey if an ‘unlucky’ person is the first encounter. The influence of social media has spread awareness of such beliefs globally, often discussed in the context of cultural curiosities or predictive psychological behavior. Business travelers in some regions may also observe symbolic gestures to neutralize bad omens, such as taking a few steps backwards or touching wood.

Sources

Dundes, A. (1984). Interpreting Folklore. Indiana University Press.

Quick Facts

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