- 1-2-3 JUMP Adding A Broom To The Ceremony
CEREMONY ADDITION 004
Utilized in many countries the use of a broom has a long tradition.
Broom Jumping has become one of the most popular African traditions at weddings - traditional and African-centered. According to Harriette Cole in her book, "Jumping the Broom." The ritual itself was created by African 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 jumping of the broom is a symbol of sweeping away of the old and welcoming the new, or a symbol of a new beginning.
How to perform a broom jumping ceremony?
Supplies: Broom, Ribbon
A fully decorated broom can be purchased at ethnic stores, or a regular household broom will suffice. Broom sizes will vary, but it doesn't matter which you choose. If you decide to use your own broom and decorate it yourself, be sure it coordinates with your wedding colors. Using your own broom can also be a great bonding activity for the bridesmaids, perhaps the night, or week before the wedding.
Feel free to use bows, flowers (artificial or real), or other trinkets to make it unique. But don't overdo it. You'll probably want this for a keepsake in your home. Another idea is to have a basket full of ribbon pieces at the wedding or reception and allow guests to tie ribbons around the broom before you begin the ceremony. This allows the audience to participate, which is in keeping with the African tradition of community involvement.
The Ceremony
Have your host ask guests to form a circle around the couple as they stand in front of the broom on the floor.
The host should discuss the symbolism behind the broom as it relates to the joining of the couple and the combining of two families, and the need for the community to support the couple. Meanwhile have the couple hold the broom handle together and sweep around in a circle until the host or designated person is finished talking.
The groom should then place the broom on the floor and hold the bride's hand.
Have everyone count 1, 2, 3... Jump!
"MORE SWEEPING DETAILS"
Benjamin Franklin introduced broomcorn to the United States in 1725. He is said to have picked a single broomcorn seed off a broom of a Philadelphia lady, planted it and grew the first broomcorn in the United States.
It is bad luck to loan your broom to anyone, even a friend.
Welsh: A broom is placed aslant in the doorway of the cottage. It is used as a holy symbol of matrimony. The Bridegroom jumped over the broom into the house, followed by the bride. If either of them touched the broom, the doorpost or moved the broom, the marriage was void. The object of the Broom-jumping ceremony was a public setting apart of the couple for the purpose of child bearing and was interpreted as a partnership, not ownership. To get a divorce, the couple just jumps back over the broom handle, only this time they jump backwards. (1683 Curiog Valley, Wales).
As sure as comes your Wedding Day, A broom to you I'll send; In sunshine, use the brushy part, in storm, the other end. (1887).
Italy: When a broom falls, someone will Marry.
Germany: If you drop a broom, you will get married the same day next year.
A broom laid in a doorway would detain a witch from entering a cottage. For a witch would not cross over objects without first numbering the parts, and counting all the fibers of a broom would slow her progress. (Wales).
Irish: Stand a broom upside down - Marry soon.
Lithuania: If you step over a broom handle there will be no proposal this year.
The Devil told the early witches to ride the broom like a horse and they could then levitate safely, because they were afraid.
United States: If a wife sweeps a circle around her husband, it will keep him eternally true to her.
If a single person wishes to marry, they should never let anyone sweep a circle around them.
If a family changes residences, do not leave the broom behind, not even if it is old.
A broom laid across your threshold on New Year's Day will keep evil spirits away for the rest of the year.
Brooms bought in May, sweep the family away.
It is bad luck to step over a broom, but good luck to accidentally walk under one. (It is easy to walk under a broom at the Victor Trading Co., as we hang the extra stock from the ceiling and we have a broom 'trade sign' hung over the sidewalk outside).
If you place a broom on the floor, it will indicate to your guests that they have stayed long enough.
It is bad luck to move a broom, a new house needs a new broom.
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