Rhiannon Hendricks
Jumping the broom is a wedding custom in which a couple jumps over a broom to seal their union. The ritual is most widespread among African Americans and Black Canadians, popularized by the 1970s novel and TV series Roots. While the tradition's exact origins are disputed, it is believed to have originated in Europe or West Africa and was used during the period of African enslavement in the United States. Today, it is often used by couples to symbolize a new beginning, sweeping away the past, and jumping into a new future together.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | There are conflicting reports regarding the origin of the ritual. Some believe it originated in West Africa, while others believe it originated in Europe. |
| Meaning | Symbolises a new beginning, sweeping away the past, and the joining of two lives and families. |
| Who Participates | The couple getting married, and sometimes their guests. |
| When It Takes Place | At the end of the wedding ceremony, after vows have been exchanged. |
| The Broom | A traditional broom has a wooden handle, natural bristles, and is about three feet long. It is often decorated with ribbons, flowers, or lace and passed down through generations. |
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What You'll Learn
The ritual's origins
Jumping the broom is a wedding custom in which a couple jumps over a broom to symbolize the joining of two lives and a new beginning. The ritual is most widely practised among African Americans and Black Canadians. It is also observed in the United Kingdom, especially among the Roma community and in Wales.
The exact origins of the ritual are disputed. Some believe it originated in West Africa, where brooms were waved over the heads of newlyweds and their parents to ward off evil spirits. Others claim it is rooted in indigenous wedding rituals in Europe, specifically Great Britain, and was introduced to enslaved Africans in the 19th century. Historian Tyler D. Parry, in his book "Jumping the Broom: The Surprising Multicultural Origins of a Black Wedding Ritual", supports this theory, highlighting cultural exchanges between enslaved African Americans and rural British people during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Dianne M. Stewart, a professor of religion and African American studies, agrees that the ritual travelled to America from Great Britain. She argues that it was imposed on enslaved Africans by white slave owners as a pagan custom, separate from their own unions but suitable for Black couples who wanted a symbolic ritual. Stewart's research also reveals that the tradition is present in many different cultures, not exclusively among Black Americans.
The ritual was widely used during the period of African enslavement in the United States, as enslaved people were often not permitted to legally marry. Jumping the broom allowed them to symbolically bind themselves in marriage. As slavery came to an end, some Black Americans continued this tradition, even after legal marriages were available to them.
The novel and miniseries "Roots", which depicted the ritual, further popularized jumping the broom in the 1970s, leading to a resurgence within Black American families who saw it as a way to honour their history.
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Symbolism and significance
Jumping the broom is a wedding custom in which a couple jumps over a broom placed on the floor at the end of the wedding ceremony. The ritual is said to symbolise a new beginning, leaving the past behind, and stepping into a new future together. It also signifies the joining of two lives and the union of two families.
The tradition is most prevalent among African Americans and Black Canadians, with roots in the 19th-century slavery era in the United States. During slavery, enslaved Africans were not allowed to legally marry, so they jumped over a broom to symbolise their union. This ritual was popularised in the 1970s by the novel and TV series "Roots", which depicted a wedding between two enslaved characters.
Some historians dispute the African origins of the tradition, instead suggesting it originated in Europe, specifically in indigenous wedding rituals in Britain and Ireland. In these cultures, jumping over a broom was associated with broomstick marriages of doubtful validity. However, historian Tyler D. Parry argues that there were cultural exchanges between enslaved Africans and rural British populations, resulting in similarities between their matrimonial rituals.
Regardless of its exact origins, jumping the broom has become a significant tradition for many Black couples, representing a connection between the past and present. It is often seen as a way to honour ancestral roots and has been incorporated into modern weddings as part of the "'heritage weddings' movement".
The broom used in the ritual is typically shorter than a standard household broom, with a wooden handle and natural bristles. Couples often decorate the broom with silk ribbons, flowers, or lace, and it is customary to save the broom as a keepsake or pass it down to future generations.
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Variations of the custom
Jumping the broom is a wedding custom that has been practised by various cultures and communities worldwide. While the exact origins of the ritual are disputed, it is widely accepted that it originated in Europe and was later brought to America through slavery. The ritual has been particularly popular among African Americans and Black Canadians, who have embraced it as a way to honour their ancestral roots.
In some African cultures, brooms were waved over the heads of the newlyweds and their parents to ward off evil spirits. This custom was also practised in West Africa, where it was believed to sweep away the past and jump into the future, symbolising a new beginning. In Southern Africa, the ritual represented the wife's commitment to maintaining her new home.
In Europe, the custom was practised in England, Wales, and the border areas between Scotland and England. In these regions, couples would agree to marry verbally without legal contracts. Jumping over a broomstick placed across their threshold signified their union and the creation of a new household.
In the United States, the ritual was used during the period of African enslavement. Enslaved people would jump over the broom to symbolise their marriage, as they were often not permitted to wed legally. This practice continued even after slavery ended, with some Black Americans choosing to jump the broom if an officiant was unavailable and later legalising their marriage.
The custom of jumping the broom has also been observed in Celtic and Roma cultures, as well as in Irish weddings. It is believed to symbolise the joining of two families and the sweeping away of the past.
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The broom's design
The design of the broom used in the "jumping the broom" wedding ritual is an important part of the tradition. The broom is usually three feet long and has a wooden handle with natural bristles. Most couples customise their wedding brooms with silk ribbons, flowers, or lace. The broom can be a family heirloom, purchased, handmade, or customised by the couple, family members, or someone significant to the couple. Some sources suggest that the broom was waved over the couple's heads before being placed on the ground for the couple to jump over.
Couples may choose to decorate the broom to match their wedding colours or personal aesthetic, and to honour their families. The decorations may include silk ribbons, flowers, or lace. The couple may also ask their guests to write their names on decorative paper to attach to the broom before using it in the ceremony, symbolising their well-wishes for the newlyweds.
After the wedding, many couples choose to keep the broom as a symbol of unity and a reminder of the moment they said "I do". The broom may be displayed in their home or passed down to future generations to use in their wedding ceremonies.
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The ritual's popularity
Jumping the broom is a popular ritual among African Americans and Black Canadians. It is a wedding ritual that is said to symbolise a new beginning, leaving the past behind, and stepping into the future. The ritual is also said to signify the joining of two families.
The custom is said to have originated in West Africa, where brooms were waved over the heads of the newly married couple to ward off evil spirits. The couple would then jump over the broom, with the one jumping the highest becoming the head of the household. However, some historians believe the custom does not have connections to Africa and instead originated in Europe.
The ritual was widely used during the period of African enslavement in the United States, where enslaved people were not allowed to legally wed. They would jump over the broom to symbolise their union in marriage. This ritual was also popularised in the 1970s by the novel and miniseries "Roots", which depicted a wedding between two enslaved people who jumped the broom.
Jumping the broom is often included in modern weddings, with couples choosing to customise their wedding brooms with decorations such as silk ribbons, flowers, or lace. The broom is then saved as a keepsake to be passed down to future generations.
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Frequently asked questions
Jumping the broom symbolises a new beginning, sweeping away the past and jumping into the future. It also signifies the joining of two families becoming one.
There are conflicting reports regarding the origins of the tradition. Some believe the custom originated in West Africa, where brooms were waved over the heads of newlyweds to ward off evil spirits. Others believe it originated in Europe and was introduced to enslaved Africans in America by white slave owners.
After exchanging vows, the officiant will provide a prayer or brief explanation of the ritual. The broom is then placed on the ground and the couple jumps over it together, holding hands, to seal their union.
