Are you jumping the broom ?

If we were having an outdoor ceremony we would, but we're getting married in a Catholic church.

No way

Ive never heard of this? what does it mean?

@ELlizabeth...The "Jumping the Broom" is a ceremony in which the bride and groom, either at the ceremony or at the reception, signify their entrance into a new life and their creation of a new family by symbolically "sweeping away" their former single lives, former problems and concerns, and jumping over the broom to enter upon a new adventure as wife and husband.

I'm doing it and I'm going to try and DIY it , It look pretty easy.

I'm doing it! And I'm DIY-ing our broom. It seems like it would be a fun addition to our ceremony.

@Elizabeth G: I found this on a website -

The "Jumping the Broom" is a ceremony in which the bride and groom, either at the ceremony or at the reception, signify their entrance into a new life and their creation of a new family by symbolically "sweeping away" their former single lives, former problems and concerns, and jumping over the broom to enter upon a new adventure as wife and husband.

Jumping the broom or in some cases jumping over an imaginary line is an African ritual, or tradition still being practiced in some parts of West Africa. Jumping the broom is not associated with slavery. Enslaved Africans, as an affirmation of their cultural heritage practiced it during slavery in North America.

Jumping the Broom History

This is a ceremony dating back to the 1600s and derived from Africa. Dating back to slave days, jumping the broom together has been part of weddings for couples who want to honor that tradition. It also has roots in the Celtic culture and including but not limited to Welsh, Celtics, Druids, and Gypsies and some aboriginal or shamanistic cultures.

Some couples choose to incorporate it into traditional and non-traditional ceremonies. Broom jumping is a brief ceremony usually within the wedding ceremony toward the end. 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.

(cont)

The "Jumping the Broom" is a ceremony in which the bride and groom, either at the ceremony or at the reception, signify their entrance into a new life and their creation of a new family by symbolically "sweeping away" their former single lives, former problems and concerns, and jumping over the broom to enter upon a new adventure as wife and husband.

Jumping the broom or in some cases jumping over an imaginary line is an African ritual, or tradition still being practiced in some parts of West Africa. Jumping the broom is not associated with slavery. Enslaved Africans, as an affirmation of their cultural heritage practiced it during slavery in North America.

This "leap" into a new life (marriage as wife and husband is performed in the presence of families and friends. You can be as creative as you want when planning for this special ceremony.

(cont)

The broom has both symbolic and spiritual importance in the African culture. The ritual itself was created by our ancestors during slavery. Because slaves could not legally marry, they created their own rituals to honor their unions. Some say broom jumping comes from an African tribal marriage ritual of placing sticks on the ground representing the couple's new home.

The straws of the broom represent family; the handle represents the Almighty; the ribbon represents the tie that binds the couple together.

If we were having a traditional ceremony yes

If we were having a traditional ceremony yes

Yes indeed we are, and I decorated the broom myself

I'm doing it & the broom I bought is FAB!

@June: Where did you purchase yours from? Just in case my DIY don't come out

We are definitely doing it in honor of our ancestry and cultural traditions. However, I am undecided on if we are doing it as we enter the reception or at the end of the ceremony before we walk down the aisle. Here is the picture of my DIY broom. I made a few improvements since that picture but you get the idea.

We are "Jumping the Broom" before coming down the isle to exit. I must say that I have never been to a wedding that did it but I can't wait! I will DIY a spiffy little broom for us too.

I am way too clumsy to jump over anything. My FH asked if we were and I said nope. I refused to have a pic of me falling!!

I am doing it; I will be making mine

I'm doing it AND I'm super excited because I'll be using the broom my parents jumped over 19 years ago!

Well I don't want to be the odd ball,so I guess I will do it too , just for my mommy.

@EDubb: Where did you find the broom at ?

@ Takara: They makes it more special. AWWWWW TEAR