But readiness to partake in this wedding tradition also depended on where in the household enslaved peoples were stationed.įield hands, or anyone working away from the main house, were more likely to be comfortable with these wedding ceremonies than enslaved people who were working in the home. Other historians suggest that the tradition of a broomstick wedding was more willingly taken on by enslaved people and was adopted from lower class white folks in the US and Europe. 30% of marriages were dissolved due to the slave trade and some couples even altered their traditional wedding vows to say “marriage until death or distance” instead of “until death do us part.”

Introducing it to enslaved peoples under their purview was most likely patronizing and demeaning.Īs it was, the marriages of enslaved couples were at risk of being dissolved at a moment’s notice, since slave owners could separate couples by selling, lending, or trading slaves on a whim. Slaveholders may have considered this type of marriage ceremony an ancient pagan custom that, in their eyes, would have been barbaric and unfounded because it did not conform to the standards of the Church. It is unclear whether this marriage ritual was willingly adopted by enslaved people or was forced upon them by their white slaveholders. What are the roots of jumping the broom in the United States? It is thought that this tradition was carried over from Europe to the American South during the slave trade. If either party failed to jump or if they touched the broom during this ceremony, the marriage (or divorce) would be invalidated or canceled. Likewise, they could jump BACKWARDS over the broom to get divorced. If couples jumped over the broom without touching it, they would be considered married. Roma peoples’ marriages were never recognized by the Catholic Church, so the act of jumping the broom became known as a “Besom Wedding.” Others suggest that it isn’t even a Black tradition and originated somewhere in northern Europe among Pre-Christian Roma and Celtic communities. Many theories suggest that it originated in West Africa where brooms were waved over the couple’s heads to ward off evil before the couple then jumped over the broom. Nobody really knows exactly where the tradition of jumping the broom came from. There is no traditional choice as to who conducts the ritual/places the broom on the ground, but it is usually done by someone close to the couple (either a dear friend or a relative). The broom itself is often a fairly heirloom that has been passed down for generations, but sometimes couples will make the brooms themselves or close relations will gift the couple a handmade broom. Sometimes, guests will write their names on slips of paper to attach to the broom and symbolize their well wishes for the newlyweds. They are decorated with silk ribbons, flowers, intricate beading, and even lace. Rather, it sits around 3 feet long and has a wooden handle and natural bristles. The broom used for this type of ceremony is not your typical house broom. While this ritual was often associated with Black weddings, it’s unclear where the tradition exactly started (more on that later!). This ritual was done in place of, or more often now in addition to, the expected “I do”s. Jumping the broom refers to the tradition of a couple literally jumping over a broom in an act of marriage at their wedding ceremony. Keep reading to learn more about this wedding ritual and how it’s been practiced over the years. It turns out that there are many theories as to the origins of the tradition of jumping the broom. One of the titles is called 'Jumping the Broom.' Our team quickly realized that we weren’t all that familiar with the tradition, so we took it upon ourselves to dive into some research. In one of our latest posts, we talked about some of the best wedding movies of all time. That’s why we started Ask HOLDEN, our blog where we answer your FAQs, break down scary industry lingo, and guide you in finding the perfect piece of jewelry.

Jumping the broom meaning