Considering the Debated African Wedding Tradition in Modern Times
In this country, the African-American tradition of Jumping the Broom dates back to before the Civil War, when slaves were not permitted to marry. (The tradition itself was practiced in Africa in the 18th-century, and, depending on what you read, in different parts of Europe as well, and thus did not originate in American slave-trade.) Couples would jump over a broom in front of witnesses, usually to the beat of drums, as their way of solidifying their relationship as a wedded couple. The broom signified a “sweeping away” of past sins, a bride’s commitment to keeping her house “clean,” fertility, even an established order of command—whoever jumped higher was in charge; usually the man won.
The custom is still practiced in African-American ceremonies as a way of honoring tradition and acknowledging the slaves who lived in this country. Not everyone likes to practice the ritual, as some believe it’s a degrading reminder of a tragic time. (Indeed, Jumping the Broom had largely faded from weddings until Alex Haley showed two slaves engaging in the ritual in the TV miniseries “Roots.”) If you plan to Jump the Broom, and one of you is not of African-American descent, it’s considered acceptable, but you should probably run it by relatives. There are those who think the ritual should only be practiced by African-Americans.
Before you dust off the old kitchen sweeper, it’s common to purchase a broom at a crafts store, and have it ornamented to match the theme of your wedding (seashells if you’re marrying on the beach, or ribbon the color of your dress). If you don’t know of any place that sells customized brooms, do a Web search for “Jumping the Broom” to locate a vendor. You can also purchase an undecorated broom at any supermarket or drugstore, buy ribbons, and do-it-yourself, or with members of the bridal party. Some couples hand out ribbons and bows to the guests and pass the broom around during the reception.
There’s a good chance that not everyone attending your wedding will know the meaning of Jumping the Broom, so you might want to mention it in the wedding invite (for example, “Please join us for an exchange of vows followed by a traditional jumping of the broom ritual”). In the program, you can write up a little about the history of broom jumping as well as its personal meaning for the two of you.
As for when, exactly, Jumping the Broom should take place, that’s up to you. Many couples do it before leaving the church, others wait until the party. You should appoint someone ahead of time to let everyone know when the ritual’s about to start; he or she can then put the broom down in front of you, and start a countdown to “jump.” Talk about being swept off your feet!
Check Out Another Debated Wedding Tradition: Throwing Rice