Some accounts say if neither couple knocked the broom out of place, then the marriage was meant to be. In Wales, Roma people’s marriages were not recognized by the church, so they would have “ Besom Weddings ” in which a groom and bride would jump over a broom that was placed across a doorway. The Welsh, in particular, sustained the ritual and carried the tradition to the American South. These communities were known for jumping the broom to seal their wedding vows. Other scholars argue that the tradition originated from British Romani customs-such as in Welsh, Scottish and Roma cultures. Brooms were waved over the heads of marrying couples to ward off evil spirits and then placed on the ground so the couple could jump over it. In some West African cultures, the broom held spiritual value and symbolized sweeping away past wrongs. ![]() Some scholars report it originated in the West African country of Ghana during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. The exact origins of jumping the broom are contested and unclear. The custom of jumping the broom has a long history that encompasses different wedding cultures. In order to get a fuller picture of the practice in the Black community and beyond, let’s take a brief look at the origins of jumping the broom. In fact, there are reports that the tradition originated from European tribes before America was even a country. There’s no denying that jumping the broom has significant symbolism for Black people, but according to various scholars, the tradition was not exclusive to Black Americans. The images sparked disapproval from Twitter, with many users virtually shaking their heads at a white woman taking part in what’s thought of as a traditionally Black custom. A viral tweet of a photographer’s photos showing a white bride and a Black groom jumping the broom at their wedding sparked outrage online. Because the wedding tradition is so firmly wrapped in Black American culture, other ethnic groups are often implicitly discouraged from practicing it. The popularity of the custom in Black communities is depicted in contemporary films and television such as the 2011 rom-com, Jumping the Broom. “In the years since Roots premiered, I’ve been invited to a number of weddings in which Black couples jumped the broom, considering it a dignifying African tradition preserved by ancestors.” ![]() Stewart, author of Black Women, Black Love: America’s War on African American Marriage. “The broomstick wedding, for many viewers, conveyed how African descendants shared the profound joy of romantic love in the midst of incessant violation and trauma,” said Dianne M. ![]() It was a symbol of perseverance in the midst of so much darkness for enslaved Black Americans throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Popularized by the Emmy award-winning miniseries Roots, the tender scene of Kunta Kinte and Belle cementing their wedding vows by jumping the broom left a lasting impression on many Black Americans. Jumping the broom has become synonymous with African American wedding traditions.
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