What Does It Mean To Jump The Broom

The oldest records we have of jumping over a broom being used as a marriage rite dates to around 1700 in wales.

It s an ancient custom in which the bride and groom signify their entrance into a new life by jumping over a festively decorated broom made with real straw. What does it mean to jump the broom. Jumping over a broom was a way to get married without the church. Jumping the broom is a significant part of african american heritage that dates back to the says before slavery.

After vows are exchanged the newlyweds hold hands and jump over a broom to seal the union. The history of jumping the broom. Brooms were also used in marriage ceremonies where they waved over marrying couples serving as a way to remove evil spirits and or sweep off past wrongs in order to start anew. Jumping the broom is a common catch phrase used to refer to the act of getting married.

It has been suggested that the custom is based on an 18th century idiomatic expression for sham marriage marriage of doubtful validity. What does it mean to jump the broom. Over the years there has been some controversy as to whether couples should include this ritual in weddings today. Jumping the broom or jumping the besom is a phrase and custom relating to a wedding ceremony where the couple jumps over a broom.

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Most times at the. Some people particularly roma commonly known as gypsies had marriages that weren t recognized by the church. In the united states slaves had no rights and their unions were not legally. In a literal sense jumping the broom entails a couple jumping over a broom to demonstrate their union.

They could jump over the same broom together holding hands or less commonly lay a broom in front of one another and jump over each other s broom either individually or at the same time. Jumping the broom is an informal marriage or partnership it comes from peasant or gypsy marriages before the idea of a civil marriage going before a justice of the peace to vow marriage oaths came about in britain with the marriage act 1836 as an alternative to a church marriage. It was popularized in the context of the introduction of civil marriage in britain with the marriage act 1836.