 A couple jumping the broom after being pronounced husband & wife.
Introduction & History
Broom jumping is a small ceremony usually within the wedding ceremony. It has roots in African culture as well as Celtic culture and some aboriginal or shamanistic cultures. The jumping of the broom is symbolic of binding a couple in marriage and also can be used to symbolize fertility and prosperity of the couple.
Some people associate broom jumping with slavery. It is true that broom jumping was utilized by African slaves in colonial America. However, it was performed because it is a wedding tradition for some African tribes, particularily in West Africa (Ghana specifically). They were incorporating their own long-standing traditions into their wedding ceremonies as anyone would do. Broom jumping has been mentioned in verbal history passed down through African tribes- long before Christopher Columbus was even born. Broom jumping is also not strictly an African tradition- it was also practiced by the Celts, especially in Wales, as well as in various tribes around the world.
As one of the oldest and most primitive domestic tools, the broom has long symbolized domesticity and the home. Many cultures have associated the broom with fertility, domestic tranquility, and prosperity.
Preparing Your Broom
Your spiritual beliefs may play a part in how you prepare your broom. Some cultures specify that a specific type of wood must be used (e.g. willow, apple, oak). This site explains various woods and their traditional spiritual properties/symbolism. Some cultures may also specify who should make the broom.
 The wood from willow trees has been used traditionally in spiritual ceremonies. - Willow is often used as a wood for a broom as it is believed to be a highly magical, feminine wood. It is also associated widely with fertility. Apple, coconut, and mistletoe are also associated with fertility. Almond is associated with virginity and is often used in ceremonies where the broom jumping is symbolic of a virgin bride leaving behind her virginity to become one with her new husband.
- The bride may opt to make the broom and/or decorate it herself- especially if the groom lives far from her. Traditionally, the bride begins working on the broom with the engagement and puts the finishing touches on it the night before her wedding. While preparing the broom, the bride thinks of her future groom and "weaves" her hopes for their future into the broom symbolically with the physical decoration of it. Alterately, the groom could be the broommaker and do the same thing. Of course, couples who live together before the wedding could do this as well.
- The parents of the couple make the broom together in order to symbolize the two families working together for the good of the couple. Brooms of this nature are often presented the couple during the wedding ceremony.
- The couple may opt for the guests at the wedding to decorate the broom. There are some wedding broom kits one can buy which comes with a broom and plenty of extra so that a guest can wrap a ribbon around the broom and contribute to the tableau of decorations.
- If there are children of the couple who will be blending families, the children may want to make and/or decorate the broom then present it to the couple to represent family unity and how a family must work together to accomplish tasks.
- Some couples may wish to have their broom blessed by a religious official. This may happen before the ceremony or during it. Other couples may bless their own brooms or inscribe protective verses on them. Other couples may want an outside source, friend, or spiritual leader to inscribe symbols or other spiritual markings on the broom. Some Christian couples may opt to have their broom sprinkled with holy water and blessed by the officiant before the ceremony.
Broom Jumping Ceremony
There is no set wording for a broom jumping ceremony. Because the broom jumping is personal for every couple and done to symbolize a number of things, the ceremony is often tailored to the couple. Below are some sample ceremonies, arranged by the purpose of the broom jumping. The jumping may be performed before the ceremony, during the ceremony, or at the reception- it all depends on the reason for the ceremony.
Transition Into Married Life
This is one of the most popular symbolisms for the broom jumping ceremony. It symbolizes the transformation from being two single people into one married unit.
- If performed before the ceremony, the bride and groom are encouraged to jump over the broom as the enter the ceremony venue together. The guests who are still single stand behind them and the guests who are married stand in front of them. This may also be performed after the wedding.
- If performed during the ceremony, it is often performed immediately after the ceremony as part of the recessional. The broom is placed behind the couple as they are facing the officiant. They turn around to face the guests and then jump over the broom to start their recessional.
- If performed during the reception, it is often done before the first dance of the couple. Friends and family may gather around the couple in a circle. After the couple jumps the broom, it is removed and the couple usually dances their first dance.
Examples
Today we honor and celebrate the transition from two separate lives into one life united by love. This broom symbolizes the entrance of the couple into a new life together.
As part of our celebration today, the couple wishes to sweep out the dust from their former lives as they jump into their new life together.
Ensuring Prosperity or Fertility for the Couple
Some couples may want use the broom jumping ceremony as a ceremony to promote fertility or prosperity for the couple. This type of broom ceremony is done after the prouncement of marriage- either right before or as part of the recessional or as part of the reception. In this ceremony, the broom is also traditionally raised off of the ground. This tradition comes from old prosperity ceremonies where a broom was held as high as the first crops would grow and then the couple would leap over it to ensure a good harvest in the coming year. The parents of the couple hold the broom.
Examples
As a celebration of the future prosperity of the couple, the parents will now present this broom for jumping. May the new, united life of this couple be filled with joy and blessings.
In former times, a broom was jumped in order to ensure the prosperity and fertility of the couple. (Bride) and (Groom) wish to engage in this centuries-old tradition to represent their dedication to building a prosperous and successful life together.
Unification of the Family
The broom jumping ceremony may also be used as a way to unify the families, especially if there are children from a previous relationship that will be included in the wedding. This is usually done within the wedding ceremony immediately after the vows and as part of the Family unity ceremony. The couple will jump the broom first, then turn around and encourage the child/children to jump. After jumping the broom, the child/children are usually met with an embrace from the couple.
Some examples of wording that may be added to the Family unity ceremony.
To symbolize the formation of the new family, the couple will now jump over the broom and welcome (each/the) child as (he/she) does the same.
With today's ceremony, a new family has been formed. To symbolize the unification of (Bride) and (Groom) with (Child/Children's Names), the family will now jump this broom to cross the threshold of their lives together. This broom will then be proudly displayed in their home as a representation of their happy and unified home.
Transition Into Womanhood
The broom jumping ceremony may also be used to symbolize the transition of a bride (or groom) into womanhood (or manhood). This ceremony is performed before the wedding ceremony. This ceremony is generally performed with other attendants of the same gender. The married attendants stand on the opposite site of the broom while the unmarried attendants stand on the side of the bride (or groom). The bride (or groom) then jumps to the side where the married attendants are. This ceremony may also be done at the beginning of the wedding ceremony with the couple jumping together, or at the very end of the ceremony.
External Links
- Jumping Brooms offers a large variety of jumping and ornamental brooms.
- Gemstone information. This page specifically speaks of wands but also has great information on various believed effects of gemstones.
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