Sitting down before a journey: why do people do it?
sit before a trip tradition · sitting down before leaving
- journey
- travel
- sitting down
- tradition
Sitting down for a few seconds before a long trip is a custom in many families: it is believed to make the journey safe. That short pause also helps you remember what you forgot.
What does the custom mean?
In folk belief sitting down before leaving says goodbye to the house and starts the journey well. Everyone, those leaving and those seeing them off, sits quietly for a few seconds, then stands up and goes.
Where does it come from?
The exact origin is unknown, but the custom is especially common in Eastern Europe and many Georgian families keep it too. Some think it was once meant to trick the house spirits so they would not follow the traveller.
Why it is still a good idea
Those few seconds are exactly when you remember the passport, charger or glasses you left behind. So this tradition really does cut the risk of unpleasant surprises.
- Documents
- Phone and charger
- Keys
- Medicines