African-Weddings, Heritage Wedding Brooms, Accessories & Gifts

How to Jump the broom

First- Remember there is no right or wrong way to jump the broom...

Jumping the broom is about incorporating your past, and giving it a place of honor in your new life. Therefore combine it with your personality and style. It should be an uplifting and spiritual addition to any ceremony.

In my own wedding it was a way to connect my daughter and two step-sons. My step-sons escorted my daughter down the aisle in a very slow, regal walk as she carried the wedding broom. Lithurgical dancers then danced to contemporary African music as we prepared for the final words of the pastor, kissed and jumped the broom.

Here are some other suggestions for how to incorporate Jumping the broom in your ceremony

Jumping the Broom Ceremony

We have listed several options for ceremonies. Each can be customized to your complete satisfaction.

• • •

Ceremonial Broom

This version is for the last part of the wedding ceremony

As our bride and groom jump the broom, they physically and spiritually cross the threshold into the land of matrimony. It marks the beginning of making a home together. It symbolizes the sweeping away of the old and the welcoming of the new; the sweeping away all negative energy, making way for all things that are good to come into your lives. It is also a call of support for the marriage from the entire community of family and friends. The bride and groom will now begin their new life together with a clean sweep!

One of the attendants then hands the broom to the groom, who makes sweeping gestures to eliminate any negative energies. The groom then hands the broom to the bride, who places it on the ground in their path.

Minister: Everyone count 1, 2, 3... Jump! Together! 1, 2, 3... Jump!

The bride and groom jump over the broom, then kiss. Immediately, the music begins and the couple recesses down the aisle to the cheers of family and friends!

• • •

This version is a good choice for the reception

The Minister or designated person asks the guests to form a circle around the couple as they stand in front of the broom on the floor.

One of the attendants then hands the broom to the bride and groom, who hold the broom handle together and sweep around in a circle until the Minister or designated person is finished speaking. The groom then places the broom on the ground in their path, kisses the bride and holds hands.

Minister: "Jumping the Broom" is a ceremony dating back to the 1600s and is an African American tradition. Slaves in this country were not permitted to marry, so they jumped a broom as a way of ceremonially uniting. Today it represents great joy and at the same time serves as a reminder of the past and the pain of slavery.

As (bride) and (groom) jump the broom, they physically and spiritually cross the threshold into the land of matrimony. It marks the beginning of making a home together. It symbolizes the sweeping away of the old and the welcoming of the new; the sweeping away all negative energy, making way for all things that are good to come into your lives. It is also a call of support for the marriage from the entire community of family and friends. The bride and groom will now begin their new life together with a clean sweep!

Minister: Everyone count 1, 2, 3... Jump! Together! 1, 2, 3... Jump!

The bride and groom jump over the broom, then kiss. Now. . . "Let the party begin!"

• • •

Larry James 2/21/09

Creat your own traditions... and pass them on...

This version honors the grandmothers

Minister: We end this ceremony with the African American tradition of jumping of the broom. Slaves in this country were not permitted to marry, so they jumped a broom as a way of ceremonially uniting. Today it represents great joy and at the same time serves as a reminder of the past and the pain of slavery. It is traditional that the elders of the family conduct the ritual. We therefore call up [grandmother's name] and [grandmother's name].

The Minister then hands the broom to the elder of one family, who makes sweeping gestures to eliminate any negative energies. That individual then hands the broom to the other elder representative, who places it on the ground in their path.

Minister: As our bride and groom jump the broom, they physically and spiritually cross the threshold into the land of matrimony. Today marks the beginning of making a home together. It symbolizes the sweeping away of the old and the welcoming of the new; the sweeping away all negative energy, making way for all things that are good to come into your lives. It is also a call of support for the marriage from the entire community of family and friends. The bride and groom will now begin their new life together with a clean sweep!

Minister: Everyone count 1, 2, 3... Jump! Together! 1, 2, 3... Jump!

The bride and groom jump over the broom, then kiss. Immediately, the music begins and the couple recesses down the aisle to the cheers of family and friends!