![]() ![]() Some people believe that the ceremony began in the 18th century in West Africa where, among some cultures, handmade brooms were used not only for cleaning but also for removing evil spirits. There's no definitive answer as to where jumping the broom originated. Mario Tama/Getty Images News/ Getty Images Learn about the ceremony's history on the next page. Regardless of the ways in which the broom is incorporated into a wedding, it should be accompanied by a full understanding of the custom's historical significance. In pagan ceremonies, the broom represents a perfect balance between the male and female, with the handle symbolizing a phallus and the bristles symbolizing female energies. ![]() In Christian ceremonies, ribbons on the broom may be considered symbolic of the tie that binds the couple, while the broom handle represents God and the straw signifies the couples' families. This symbolizes that the guests - and their associated well wishes - go into the marriage with the couple. The broom can even be used to include guests in the ceremony: A couple can have guests write their names on pieces of decorative paper attached to ribbons, and then the ribbons are tied to the broom before it is jumped. Today, many brides attach the verse to their wedding brooms. ![]() The passage's sentiment warns others to respect the couple's union and encourages the couple to cherish each other. in the early 1900s as an accompanying tune. One song, "At an Ole Virginia Wedding," was frequently used in the U.S. Far from ordinary, these brooms are outfitted beautifully with silk ribbons, fresh or silk flowers, bows, beads and more.ĭuring the ceremony, broom jumping can be paired with a prayer, song, poem or simple explanation of the tradition. Wedding brooms can be purchased from wedding supply stores, created by florists - or perhaps an antique family broom is more in fitting with the couple’s tastes and family traditions.Some brides prefer to create their own brooms, while others purchase ornately decorated brooms ready-made. In today’s ceremony, the broomstraw is said to represent family, the handle the Almighty and the ribbon the tie that binds the couple together. In the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, chapter 48 refers to a couple having been married "over the broomstick." American singer-songwriter Brenda Lee released the rockabilly song “Let's Jump the Broomstick” on Decca Records in 1959. The earliest mention of the custom in the Oxford English Dictionary is a quote from the Westminster magazine of 1774: "He had no inclination for a broomstick-marriage." A satirical song published in the Times of London in 1789 alludes to a questionable relationship between the Prince Regent and a commoner: “Their way to consummation was by hopping o’er a broom, sir.” That's how you got married in them days." The Broadway play "The Piano Lesson" by August Wilson contained a reference in Act One in which a character, Doaker, describes his family history during slavery says: "See that? That's when him and Mama Berniece got married. So, in hush-hush ceremonies, lovers would commit themselves to one another in front of their friends and family by stepping over a broomstick. On some plantations, blacks were prohibited from learning to read or getting married. Some say broom jumping comes from an African tribal marriage ritual of placing sticks on the ground representing the couple's new home. However, there are some who cringe at the custom – since it can be a painful reminder of slavery in America. Wedding planners have started inserting the custom into today’s festivities – along with the bride throwing her bouquet, the groom tossing her garter, and the guests showering the departing couple with rice – or for the more ecologically minded, birdseed or even soap bubbles. The groom jumps first, followed by the bride. The Welsh have a centuries-old custom called priodas coes ysgub, or "broomstick wedding." Local variations include placing the broom at an angle by the rear doorway of the church. There are variations practiced by the Welsh, Celtics and Druids as well as nomadic Romani – or gypsies. ![]() The custom actually is quite old with roots in Celtic culture. It’s an ancient custom in which the bride and groom signify their entrance into a new life by jumping over a festively decorated broom made with real straw and tied with a ribbon. A hilarious movie about two very different families converging on Martha's Vineyard for a wedding uses the term “Jumping the Broom” as its title. ![]()
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