Tradition is a pattern of thought, action, or behavior that is passed down from generation to generation. Throughout the Bible, God enacted and established traditions that He commanded be taught to and practiced by succeeding generations (Exodus 12:42; 16:32; 27:21; 29:42; 30:8, 10; 31:16). However, the Bible also teaches that the people began performing these religious practices without sincerity of heart and sometimes added their own man-made traditions that became unreasonable and burdensome to the people (Matthew 23:4). So tradition was intended by God to be a blessing that helps people know Him better and draw near to Him in meaningful ways, but, as so often happens, humans distorted what God intended for good and used it for evil in unhelpful ways. Thus, a Christian must discern which traditions are biblically based and how their own hearts react to it, being careful neither to do it without sincerity nor out of perceived obligation but rather practicing traditions out of love for God in ways that nourish their faith.
Clearly God knows that we are forgetful and need regular reminders to place our focus on Him. He also designed us so that our senses enhance understanding and memory. Many traditions established in the Old Testament continued through the New Testament times and even through to today. What did change after Jesus' death and resurrection is that Old Testament traditions are no longer an obligation. Jesus has instituted the new covenant, so the old covenant is no longer binding. Salvation is found in Christ alone and not in the traditions which were meant to point to our need for His saving work (Colossians 2:17). Instead, Old Testament traditions, and even many extra-biblical traditions established throughout Christian history, are an opportunity to enrich an ever-growing relationship with God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Even in Old Testament times, these rituals and traditions did not provide salvation. In some cases, the very thing God commanded became an actual idol. In Numbers, God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent on a pole where people could look and be saved if they were bitten by a snake (Numbers 21:8). Jesus even compared Himself to that snake on a pole in John 3:14. But the people eventually turned from trusting in and worshipping God, to worshipping that bronze serpent. Hezekiah "broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan)" (2 Kings 18:4). The human heart can turn commanded tradition and religious symbols into inappropriate hypocritical worship and flat out idolatry.
Thus, Christians should assess their own hearts when it comes to deciding which traditions they will practice. Simple actions like attending church on Sundays, praying over meals before eating, and singing certain hymns on Easter Sunday are traditions that many people find helpful in drawing their hearts closer to God and reminding them of what He has done. However, traditions and rituals have no power to provide salvation (Galatians 2:16), so we are not obligated to practice any specific tradition.
Christians are free to explore and practice traditions that draw them closer to the Lord and help them express genuine worship from their own hearts. As the apostle Paul wrote to believers in Colosse, "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath" (Colossians 2:16). He also wrote to the Corinthian church, "'All things are lawful,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful,' but not all things build up… So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:23, 31).
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