I speculate

[serenissima]

The archetypal first program to write when learning a new programming language is one that makes the computer display the words "Hello world." Could this message have something to do with our universal desire to communicate and have our existence acknowledged? Or am I reading too much into things?

Also: here's a series of "Hello world" programs arranged according to the supposed job title of the writer. I enjoyed trying to guess which language each one is written in. I think I'll put my guesses in a comment....