Jumping Brooms: Diy Guide For Wedding Traditions

Jumping the broom is a wedding custom with a complex history. The tradition involves a couple jumping over a broomstick together or separately, and it is most prevalent among African Americans and Black Canadians. While the exact origins of the ritual are disputed, it is believed to have originated in West Africa, Wales, or the British Isles, with several cultural variations. In the context of African American and Black Canadian communities, jumping the broom holds particular significance due to its association with enslaved people in the United States who were not legally allowed to marry. Today, the tradition is often incorporated into weddings as a way to honour cultural heritage and legacy.

The history of jumping the broom

Jumping the broom is a custom relating to a wedding ceremony in which the couple jumps over a broom. The tradition is most widespread among African Americans and Black Canadians and was popularized in the 1970s by the novel and miniseries Roots. However, the custom has a complex history with several conflicting accounts about the origin of the ritual.

Some argue that the tradition originated in West Africa, specifically the country of Ghana, where brooms were used to ward off evil spirits. In this context, family members or community members would wave a broom over the couple's heads, and then the couple would jump over it. It was also said that whoever jumped the highest would be the decision-maker in the household.

Others claim that the tradition originated in Wales, where Roma people's marriages were not recognized by the church. These couples would have "Besom Weddings," jumping over the broom to get married and, if they wanted to annul the marriage, they would jump over the broom backward.

In the context of African American and Black Canadian communities, jumping the broom was a way for enslaved people to get married since they were often not permitted to marry legally. However, there are conflicting accounts as to whether this tradition was self-imposed by enslaved people or forced upon them by slaveholders. Once slavery ended and Black people were free to marry legally, the practice of jumping the broom fell out of favour. However, it survived in some communities and was revived in the 20th century after the publication of Roots.

Today, many African and African American couples include jumping the broom in their wedding ceremonies as a tribute to their heritage and legacy. The broom can be customized with silk ribbons, flowers, intricate beading, or lace, and it is often passed down through generations as a family heirloom.

The significance of the broom in different ceremonies

Jumping the broom is a custom that is part of wedding ceremonies in several cultures. The act of jumping over a broom together or separately symbolises a new beginning and a sweeping away of the past. It also signifies the joining of two families and is a nod to ancestors.

African-American and Black-Canadian communities

In African-American and Black-Canadian communities, jumping the broom is a way to pay homage to ancestors and their shared heritage. The custom originated during slavery in the United States and was a way for enslaved people, who were often not permitted to marry legally, to take part in a marriage ceremony. Jumping the broom can also be seen as a way to bless the marriage.

Welsh Roma community

In Wales, the Roma community's marriages were not recognised by the church, so they would have "Besom Weddings". Couples would jump over the broom without touching it to get married. Jumping over the broom separately was also a way to test the validity of the union: if either party did not make it over the broom, the marriage was not meant to be and was cancelled. Jumping backwards over the broom was a way to annul the marriage.

Pagan ceremonies

In Pagan ceremonies, the broomstick represents the perfect balance between male and female energies. The handle symbolises a phallus, while the bristles represent female energy.

Christian ceremonies

In Christian ceremonies, the broomstick also symbolises the union of two families. The handle represents God, while the bristles signify the couple's families, and a ribbon tied around the broom symbolises the ties that bind the couple.

Who should place the broom on the ground

The jumping of the broom is a wedding tradition with roots in several cultures, including the Black community, the British Isles, and West Africa. The act symbolises a couple's commitment to each other and is often placed at the end of the wedding ceremony, after the couple has exchanged vows and said "I do".

While there is no specific person designated to place the broom on the ground, it is typically done by a wedding party member or someone significant to the couple. This person may be a family member or a close friend who has been chosen by the couple to take on this responsibility.

The broom itself is usually a special, ornate broom, often decorated with flowers, ribbons, and other embellishments. It is placed in front of the couple, who then jump over it together, symbolising their new life together.

Some couples may choose to incorporate this tradition into their wedding ceremony as a way to honour their cultural heritage and pay tribute to the struggles of their ancestors. It is a way to add a personal touch to their special day and create a lasting memory.

Ultimately, the decision of who places the broom on the ground is a personal choice for the couple, and they may choose anyone they feel is suitable to carry out this important task.

Broom custom in different cultures

Jumping the broom, or jumping the besom, is a custom that is part of wedding ceremonies in several cultures. The tradition is most notably associated with African Americans and Black Canadians, but it is also practised by people in the UK, including the Welsh Romani, English Romanichals, and the Irish.

The custom is believed to have originated in West Africa, specifically in the area that is now Ghana. In this region, brooms were believed to hold spiritual value and were used to ward off evil spirits. Jumping over a broom during a wedding ceremony was meant to symbolise a new beginning and the sweeping away of past wrongs. This tradition was then brought over to the US during the slave trade, where enslaved people were often not permitted to marry legally. Jumping the broom became a way to symbolise a union in the absence of legal recognition.

In the UK, the custom of jumping the broom dates back to the 18th century, where it was associated with "broomstick marriages" or sham marriages of doubtful validity. It is believed that the tradition may have been influenced by the custom of the Romanichal Travellers of the United Kingdom, especially those in Wales, who would jump over a besom (a broom made of broom corn plants).

Today, the tradition of jumping the broom is often used by Black couples as a symbol of solidarity with their ancestors and as a way to honour those who were not able to marry legally.

Modern-day practices and meanings

Jumping the broom is a wedding custom with a complex history, and its modern-day practice is steeped in a desire to pay homage to a rich cultural legacy. The tradition is most widespread among African Americans and Black Canadians, with a recent resurgence in popularity after its inclusion in Alex Haley's novel and TV series, Roots, in the 1970s.

In modern times, the broom is often a family heirloom passed down through generations, adding a personal touch to the wedding ceremony. Couples may also choose to customise their brooms with silk ribbons, flowers, intricate beading, or lace. It is also common for guests to write their names on decorative paper attached to the broom, symbolising their well-wishes for the newlyweds.

The practice of jumping the broom usually takes place after the couple has exchanged vows and said "I do". The officiant may provide a prayer, poem, or a brief explanation of the tradition's meaning before the broom is placed on the ground for the couple to jump over together or separately.

While the tradition is a cherished part of the heritage of many African Americans, some couples may choose not to incorporate it into their weddings due to its association with slavery or because they view it as archaic. Ultimately, the decision to include it in a wedding ceremony is a personal choice.

For interfaith and interracial couples, jumping the broom can be a way to acknowledge and honour their diverse backgrounds and identities. It can also symbolise a fresh start and a commitment to leaving behind the painful history of slavery and the lack of legal recognition of interracial marriages.

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