I watch people trying to say that the halacha is that minhag trumps halacha. My minhag says not like that.
Minhag simply means what was/is done.
Halacha is the application of God’s law to our actions.
God wins all conflicts, obviously.
If a person family or place accepted upon themselves to go above but not beyond the requirements of Halacha, it can obtain a neder-like obligation.
The importance of minhag comes most into play imho when dealing with new “chumros.” Aside from the fact that nearly every theoretical construct can have stringent and lenient applications, causing people to play both sides of the fence in an inherently intellectually dishonest way, it may call into doubt age-old previously unquestioned behaviors. Hotzaas laaz is serious business indeed.
As far as silly minhagim to avoid chometz, my minhag is to pretend like they are important as a symbolic representation of avoiding the yetzer hara at all costs. Provided it doesn’t violate halacha and/or perpetuate sadly prevalent mental illnesses.
Because again, God always wins. I attempt to humbly seek God through his Torah. I believe this is the purpose of existence. It seems to me that there are people so focused on things in the name of “Judaism” which draw themselves and others away from God. Do they have good intentions? Perhaps. Some of them.But the road to gihennom is paved with good intentions.
I end with my favorite quote from a brilliant anti-semite:
“And thus I clothe my naked villany
With odd old ends stol’n out of holy writ,And seem a saint, when most I play the devil.” — Shakespeare. Good night folks. I likely wont be around to respond. And if you (the reader) are offended, remember that I meant to personally attack you, obviously. Because I’m discussing people, not ideas. And never forget: there’s no such thing as denial.