What are your thoughts on Jumping the Broom?

Can someone explain the Celtic origins and meaning? I've only heard about jumping the broom in the AA/African context and to be honest, my cultural appropriation hackles always rise when I see white couples doing it. Would love to learn a little.

My FH and I are definitely going to jump the broom that's something that my family has done at every wedding since 1889 so it is tradition and we cannot wait to do it

We are jumping the broom as it means allot to my Mom for ancestral purposes plus I think it would be a nice tradition for my family to start. We plan to pass the broom onto others and have each couple add their name and wedding date as a tag.

My friend did it at her wedding and used his family's broom. It was very cool!

Here's some more info on jumping the broom, with sources.

http://paganweddings.blogspot.com/2008/04/fairy-broom-tradition-of-broom-jumping.html?m=1

For those wondering about the Celtic origins: http://www.celticjewelry.com/celtic-culture/jumping-the-broom

Unfortunately I don't have the book with me that outlines the reasoning beautifully and I don't want to misquote.

"Perhaps its greatest role is that of setting the boundary between the home and the wild. The act of sweeping the floor was not only a way of cleaning, but also demarcated the boundaries of the home. In ancient times, dirt floors were common and often to keep them clean enough to live on they had to be swept several times every day. This has the effect of creating a boundary for the home, just by sheer repetition. So, often the broom was considered one of the first lines of defense for a home maker."

We are definitely going to be jumping the broom.

My mother is very persistent about us decorating the broom together instead of buying one.

@taetae the brooms from Ren faires are usually pretty neutral. They just have a little more to them than getting one at Home Depot. Great base to decorate together.

Publix Supermarkets and Cracker Barrel restaurants have cinnamon brooms, made in GA, that smell great. You can decorate with ribbons in your colors.

Recommendation: If you're wearing a gown, jump over the handle portion instead of the bristles portion.

We are doing it only for my church family cause they love us so much. I first told them only people in the south do that so they are going to hold my dress as we jump the broom

Hubby and I thought about it. We have decided to jump the broom. We will pass it on to our children.

I think that it's a lovely and very meaningful tradition

@Elphaba - I just want to say that I absolutely love your explanations for things--not just on this post, but on others as well. Everything you say is so well-phrased and thoughtful.

That's all.

Well, not quite. As a historian, the tradition of jumping the broom (in the African-American context; I was actually unaware of the Celtic context until this post, but I am a historian of the US, and I don't study marriage traditions, so that's probably why) is something that always makes me tear up. It is hands-down one of the most moving wedding traditions I know of. It celebrates a rich heritage and an overcoming of one of the darkest periods of American life. I use it to talk with my students about personal representations of big issues.

ETA: Used today, it celebrates an overcoming of one of the darkest periods of American life. Obviously not in its original usage. Just wanted to be clear.

We are doing it! It's important to FH, but he doesn't want a decorated broom or anything, just a plain household one. He literally tried to say we should use grabdmas household broom... like a cheap old plaatic one. I wanted to decorate one with flowers. We compromised on a simple wooden one.... FH will probably use it as a regular broom after, against my wishes!

We will not be jumping the broom. I've seen it done at weddings in African American movies, but don't know much else about it.

@Sarah M I appreciate you pointing out that this is a Celtic tradition as well. My mother and stepfather jumped the broom at their wedding.

We are actually doing a renewal of vows next year. We will be doing it then for sure! Its a beautiful tradition & I would love to hand it down to our kiddos!

We're definitely doing it, I have mine decorated with pearls

We are doing it as well. We have ordered our broom and will add small decorations to it personally once arrives. Its a beautiful tradition that I simply could not break. Everyone on my father's side has done it for generations...

@MrsWrs

My parents gave me a different history lesson (as well as one of my college professors) about 'jumping the broom' as it pertains to the African American community.

During slavery times, the broom was waved over the couples head to get rid of any bad spirits. Then to make the marriage official, the couple would jump over the broom.

The broom represented the wife's commitment to ensure that the household was clean/in order and her long-standing willingness to keep it that way.

Typically, because the man would jump higher than the woman, it also meant that the man was the decision maker of the household. Whomever jumped the highest, would be 'head of household' (which usually was the man).

Since it originated during slavery times and is associated with slavery, a lot of African Americans choose not to want this tradition connected with their wedding.

Personally, I think the tradition has a lot of religious implications and gender roles that I don't 100% agree with (all the time) based on our changing society. Therefore, I don't know that we'll be jumping the broom. However, I have been to a number of weddings where it has been done.

Hope that helped!

We are definitely doing it! FH's Aunt is making our broom which is special because she makes all the wedding brooms in the family. Yay tradition!