Jumping The Broom (Black History Cont.)

This past weekend I attended a wedding.  It was a small ceremony wherein after the marrying couple said their "I do's", the bridal party attended Sunday service together.  At the conclusion of church, the newlyweds completed their ceremony by jumping over a broomstick.  An African-American tradition that dates back to the 19th century (some believe that it may date back as far as the 17th century).

In many African-American wedding ceremonies, the marrying couple will jump over a broomstick to symbolize their union. During the times of slavery, unions between African-American slaves were not recognized and formal marriages were not permitted.  In the absence of formal ceremonies, jumping the broom became the open declaration for a marriage-like union.  Jumping the broom was always done before witnesses as a public announcement to other members of the slave community that a couple had joined in union.

Other ethnic groups also celebrate traditions similar to jumping the broom.