– Do you know when, why and by whom the necktie was invented?

– Do you know why men do not thread the lower button in their blazers?

-Do you know why number 13 is considered bad news in Anglosaxon culture?

– Do you know the reason for Christmas’ trees in that season?

– Do you know where the interchange of gifts in December started?

-Do you know why women use buttons in the right side of their blouses and vests?

– Do you know why men use them in the left side?

Chances are that the answers for these simple questions -and many more of that nature- are out of boundaries for the average human being. After all, even in elementary schools you’ll find that teachers and mentors lead their pupils to obey and therefore, continue that long line of unexplained behaviors.

So then, why do men and women, children and elder, regardless of nation and race, creed or color, follow traditions so closely?

Why do they obey, as if it were divine commandments, rituals and traditions, when they ignore where or why those rituals and traditions started in the first place?

Why do they let it roll?

Speaking from a spiritual point of view, are traditions good for us? I know, I know, right at this moment you’ll probably could give me the proper…and traditional answer: Traditions are the foundation for family values…and for my country’s cultural roots (whatever nation it is the one in which you were born or you live in).

But, are they that necessary or good for man?

Let’s see…

Christ, our Lord, said: “Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.”

Jesus was not a blind observer of traditions, as seen in Mark 7, where He had a strong opposed point of view, that was, to say the least, unusual in that time. Verses 8 and 9 describe the opinion of Jesus towards traditions. “For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye do”.

Hmm…many other things! And the words of Jesus kept slashing the observance of those futile customs and usages: “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition”.

Alas! It is not argument then that the tradition is our own…it doesn’t matter who’s tradition it is, it is still not a good one!

And what is there to say about the strongest tradition of them all, the Sabbath, which was (and still is) so dear for our Jewish brothers? In Mark 2:27 He clearly states that tradition is not that relevant at all: “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath”.

And in this era, the Holy Spirit communicated with men thru and gave us an even more wide explanation of things:

(All excerpts from the Third Testament)

“I have seen that the Law and Doctrines that I bequeathed to humanity in past eras, are kept hidden and have been substituted by rituals, exterior cults, and traditions.””It is the fear of taking a step toward the evolution; one step forward, accustomed to following the traditions that his ancestors bequeathed him.”

“Man fears to think and believe for himself, and he prefers to submit himself to the opinion of others, thus depriving himself of his freedom to know Me. For that reason, he has lived behind the times.”

“The time of enlightenment has come for humanity and with which man acquires his own free will.”

“How transparent and simple is the truth! How clear and simple is spirituality! However, how difficult it is to understand by one who is obstinate in the darkness of his fanaticism and of his traditions. His mind cannot conceive that there may be more than what he knows. His heart resists to renounce that which has been his god and his law: The tradition and the ritual.”

“Traditions stall man to advance in the precious path of the progress of the spirit”