If you are around my parents for any length of time then you know about their traditions, as in, if you go to or from the airport then you must stop for a meal! It used to be Denny’s because that’s what was there, but these days, who knows? It’s whatever suits their fancy for the day.
Have you ever watched Fiddler on the Roof when Papa (played by Topol) has a conversation with you about traditions? Watch it here on YouTube. It’s only about 4 minutes long. He explains that traditions allow us to know who we are, and why we are here, and when everyone knows their place then they all could keep their balance!
“You may ask how did this tradition get started. I’ll tell you. I don’t know. But it’s a tradition! And because of our traditions, every one of us knows who he is and what God expects him to do.” ~Papa
Traditions may be a long time in the making, but short on current reasoning “why” you do what you do. Especially in today’s topsy turvy world. I believe it’s important we understand our traditions and know if they are still applicable today before determining to carry them forward.
We have had a tradition in our home for several decades and it has passed on to our granddaughter… When we get together for special meals we must have candles at the table and all the lights turned off! Where did this come from? Those years in Alaska when it was dark outside and we were celebrating Thanksgiving or Christmas and it was just the four of us. This made the celebration seem extra special. So. It became a Tradition!
For decades it was a tradition that men would work out of the home, drive the car, and take care of all the important decisions for the family. Women would care for the kids and home, and be responsible for all the cooking and cleaning. Now, it’s shared between the spouses. Why? Modern change often override our traditions! Now, it’s common for both spouses to work out of the house so it requires everyone pitching in to take care of the homestead!
Boot those old traditions to the sidelines as the world changes. Let’s make some new traditions! Maybe they will last for a generation or two, and then new ones will be made up. Why? The world keeps evolving!
A granddaughter calls her mom. “Why do we cut off the end of the ham before we cook it?” Don’t know. We’ve always done it. Let me ask my mom. “Mom, why do we cut off the end of the ham before we cook it?” Well, the ham was too big for the pan!
Are traditions formed with no explanation as simple as this? Sure. It’s the way we’ve always done it, so we must keep doing it! Why? Because that’s the way it is! Traditions!
Here’s my thought today. We do have some excellent traditions, but we seldom know why we have them! Why does business start at 8 am, but the bank doesn’t open until 10 am? I’m sure there’s a reason why doors open at certain times, but can you tell me why Sunday School always started at 9:45 am? Some say it’s to give the farmers time to take care of morning chores, but why not round it up to 10 am?
My concern is that we lose the traditions that are respectful of a culture and time that is fast dying out, replaced by a counter culture that does not represent everyone and seems to exist to destroy the traditions of the past. For the most part, I should be allowed to keep my culture, and the traditions I choose, and you respect it like you want me to respect yours.
Think about it. We are living in a time when “inclusion” is the buzz word, but claim to be something that goes against the current culture then YOU are the representation of the tradition that is kicked to the curb like a sack of garbage! If we are going to start a tradition of “inclusion” then we must be willing to accept anything and everyone…as long as they are not going against the established law of the land, or as long as it doesn’t go against my religious belief.
So. Let’s pick on religion for a moment. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, or any other religion you can think of. You may want to compare them by originating nations, or where they are the dominating cultural experience. Consider how each religious culture gets recognized in special ways in current society. From special clothing, or their holy days, or even their personal rights that are bound by their holy writings. Pass laws that protect one religious culture and you will trample the traditional toes of another. If you are the dominating culture then you may not care, but what if you are trampling the traditions of others who may someday be the dominating culture? Well. Tit-for-tat! What goes around, comes around!
Consider this: In Christianity, Sunday is their day of worship (for the most part) because that is the first day of the week and the day when Jesus rose from the grave. Saturday is holy for the Jews because it is their Sabbath and on this day God rested from his acts of creation and commanded that this day be holy. Friday is holy for Islam and is mentioned in the Quran as their Day of Assembly [Source].
Does this mean we should have a 4 day work week and close all business for 3 days? Hmm… Sounds like a decent tradition to begin! Wait! Are there any other days to consider? Maybe we can have a 3 day work week!
Here’s an interesting tradition (custom) that existed in the Old Testament… I’m sure it’s not practiced today because traditions do change with the times!
In the olden times in Israel,
this is how they handled official business
regarding matters of property and inheritance:
a man would take off his shoe and give it to the other person.
This was the same as an official seal or personal signature in Israel.
(Ruth 4:7 MSG)
I think I like our tradition that says, “Let’s shake on it!” as we reach our hands out to be “shaken” by both parties! This was begun in Greece about the 5th century BC and was to show that there were no weapons in the hands of either party. Peace! But, each country and culture has its own tradition for handshaking. You would be wise to know the traditions before visiting! [Source]
Some traditions come from our way of looking at life, or guidelines from some writing, and are fashioned to make sure we keep “balance”, as Papa says above. Some come from meeting God’s laws, and others are human inventions. For me, of course, God’s laws dictate to me how I live and I’m generally okay with time-honored traditions and customs that help me live the way I should. I’m not going to break God’s law just because the human government changes its own laws!
I’ve always struggled with waiting till Christmas morning to open gifts…I’m sure we waited when we were kids, but when my kids came along I was willing to jump the gun and do it when our schedule permitted us time to enjoy the moment. With family spread all over there was never the guarantee that we would have Christmas morning reserved for our small family…
There! Tradition blown!
Now. Some traditions are politically incorrect, rude, unnecessary and downright racially motivated. Most of these we gleefully kick to the curb! Some fade with time, but there are some so ingrained it may take generations to undo centuries of acceptance. We are in a trash-talking rejecting culture that it does not take much to make a tradition seem so out of place because everyone screams about it.
But one thing I cannot budge on… God’s laws are not traditions that I can rid myself of. They are laws. From God. This is probably true for any religion. There is a view of “law” that cannot be canceled just because a counter culture says no!
So. Let’s work on enjoying our traditions as long as we understand that not everyone will enjoy your tradition with you. Let’s change the ones that need to be changed and understand that a religious law turned into a tradition may never be able to change and we will have to determine how we should address it.
“You may ask how did this tradition get started.
I’ll tell you.
I don’t know.
But it’s a tradition!”
~Papa