Jumping The Broom

No, it's not a big tradition in our families, but I think it's one of the cool ones.

View Quoted Comment My husband and I didn't do it either.

I always thought that this had something to do with African American slaves using it as a way to get married when they were unable to. I have Never heard of the evil spirits and past wrongs thing.

I've never heard of that before.

We will to pay homage to our ancestors that had to wed in secret on plantations.

View Quoted Comment You very well may be correct, that's just not what I read. So are you jumping the broom?

View Quoted Comment I recently read out it.

View Quoted Comment I never heard that connection to it but you aren't the first person to mention that. I'll do more research on this tradition.

View Quoted Comment No I will not be. It is not something my fh has brought up as part of his heritage.

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My husband and I didn't do it either.

I've never heard of this so no we will not be doing this lol

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There's still some time to incorporate it if you like, lol.

I found this article on jumping the 🧹 if anyone is interested:
https://www.brides.com/story/jumping-the-broom

I had always heard it as part of the Pagan tradition with jumping the broom. I had thought about incorporating the broom/besom into our ceremony but not sold on it yet. We'll be doing a handfasting and drinking from a quaich and an oath ring. Our ceremony is totally non traditional and very different.

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Wow, I didn't know this tradition was also associated with Pagans. Your ceremony activity sounds pretty cool, I've never heard of it.

My FH and I had talked about it but I am worried about guests getting offended because I’m white and he’s black..thoughts?

View Quoted Comment My groom is white and we are jumping the broom because Itis your wedding and Itis about culture coming together. I’m not Jewish but if he was I would step on glass with him.


Also both sweeping away of sprits and jumping over because of no marriage are both true. African slaves where not the only slaves to use brooms as way of marriage BUT due to the long history of slavery in this country The tradition is more recognized with African Americans

View Quoted Comment This is my understanding as well and the ceremony card

We are doing it! Since we are having our wedding in Denmark, we wanted a way of incorporating my heritage as well. The trouble is, all of the brooms I’m finding are pretty tacky. If anyone has a lead on where to find chic brooms, please share!

Jumping the broom 👀... to be honest it has not been on my list. It’s not that I am afraid of what others may think - it’s just that after researching my lineage and finding out that my ancestors have always been free people - I don’t want to really want to associate myself with something society tried convince me that my ancestors were. Though it is a Ghanaian tradition - there are other African traditions like bride price, money dance, African drums, kente cloths , head wraps, pre wedding festivities, and traditional African songs that can be incorporated too. Have you thought about those?


My FH and I have decided to incorporate a little bit of each of our culture/customs - since I’m Roman Catholic we will be getting married in a Catholic Church, and since he was brought up both Hindu and Christian we will exchange Mala once we’ve exchanged rings. Our reception will consist of both Tasa drums (since he is Guyanese Indian) and Djmebe and Dun dun drums (since I have indigenous roots and am an African dancer). At a traditional Indian wedding the tasa drummers play a tune similar to an African rhythm called Kuku. I feel the drums will really add to our unity and show how we are bringing two families and two cultures together as one playing the same rhythm in a polyrhythmic way.