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I live in southeast GA so jumping the broom is not unheard of here but I haven't really heard of non-african american couples that have jumped the broom. Most people have been supportive of our idea while a few others have made comments such as, "Isn't that a black thing?", which is completely rude. I love the idea of starting a tradition and being able to pass our broom down to our children for their weddings :). Are there any other bees who are jumping the broom?
I could be wrong, but from what I've observed it's a sensitive topic because of the tradition's ties to slavery. Do your research carefully.
My cousin and his wife sang this song at their reception and jumped a broom at the end:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OVS629D4lc&list=FLMr4j8pmzfzCujEyR_Qnwtw&index=11&feature=plpp_video
A white couple jumping the broom would be very hypocritical to the whole concept. Slave couples jumped the broom to be married. Maybe your area would be more accepting of the idea, but I also live in the South and it would not be pretty if a white couple jumped the broom here. But to each their own. Good luck.
Why do you want to do this, Im just curious? Do you know about its history?
I think it was also done by Welsh/celtic people, it signified a change in a couples relationship.
I personally have never been to a wedding where it has been done, but it sounds lovely.
I think the idea of starting a tradition to pass down to your future progeny is awesome, I'm just not sure If I would use something that has already been established.
My (white) cousin did this at his wedding and no one thought anything of it. Granted, we are in the north, but the idea of it being an african-american tradition and having to do with slavery is really nothing more than a popular misconception, it was done in many different cultures and was actually done first in England/Wales.
Yes, as one PP said, it's also practiced by Romani people (think My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding) in the UK.
I lived further SE from you in Georgia (try Exit 1!). I think it would raise eyebrows there, but mind you, I raised eyebrows in high school because I had a short hair cut and was a liberal.
But if you research it and it sings to you, go for it. As with any unique tradition that is integrated into a wedding, I think it's best if you explain the why/significance of it to your guests in the program.
@Aubergold: FI and I were looking for a ritual to incorporate into our ceremony we looked through many different options- sand ceremony, unity candle, the knot tying, hand fasting, the wine box one, and so on- but none of them spoke to us as a couple. When we read about jumping the broom we really loved the meaning of it, as in sweeping away your past and leaping into the future together. Every part of the broom has a significant meaning, the straws are the family roots, the handle represents the Almighty, and the bow being the tie that binds the couple together. Although I acknowledge that those meanings I just listed were not the original meanings behind the ritual, they are obviously much more modern.
From what I have read (and I have read many a website but it SO hard to trust things you read on-line to be completely factual) Wales is the first known place where JTB took place. And it was a very common practice among African tribes that was carried over to the states during slavery. Because slaves were denied the legal right to marry they would say their vows among witnesses and jump the broom to soilidfy their union.
This is one of the better websites that I have found...http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/jumping-broom-short-history
Do you have any African American friends who will be at the wedding? I would run it by them and get their thoughts. I'm sure - as you're seeing here - you'd have some people think it was cool/totally fine, and others who would think it was odd or possibly offensive.
@HawaiiBamaBride: Thank you! I don't necessarily see it as hypocritical because it is actual not a "slave tradition" it is a cultural tradition that was brought over from West Africa by those enslaved here in America. Since the slaves had no legal right to marriage they would instead jump the broom as did their ancestors.
http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/jumping-broom-short-history
You said it would not be pretty if a white couple were to JTB in your area, what do you mean? Do you mean that the black population would be upset? Just wondering...
I attended a pagan handfasting and the couple were white and jumped the broom. I have never heard of it being related to colour and believe here it is a sign of changes in your lives as a couple.
i dont see anything wrong with it, but i think it would be good to have a little paragraph about it in the program so people know it isn't just "a black thing".
I have never thought of this as a racial issue but I am of celtic descent so I have seen this done many times in the past. Although, we are focusing more on my FI's germanic roots.
It's common element of Wiccan weddings (most of whom are Caucasians and have no ties whatsoever to African-American heritage) and no one bats an eye at it in that context because it's expected. I have read from a variety of sources that it was originally European and then was adopted by the African-Americans during Colonial times. In the context of the Wiccan handfasting (wedding), the broom is intended to sweep away the past.
Most people I know would never associate it as being an African-American tradition, and even those I do know who are African-American have never seen it done in their culture. Either way, I wouldn't worry about it and no need to explain it to your guests.
I find it very difficult to believe that anyone will associate or tie the two together when a Caucasian couple is clearly not doing anything to mock slavery or whatever else might be construed by choosing to jump the broom since the custom belongs to more than one culture.
Since you and your groom love the (modern) meanings and symbolism of jumping the broom, I say go for it. I would suggest having an explanation of the meanings/symbolism in the program so that people understand why you chose to incorporate it in your ceremony.
ETA - @NeileeB: Great minds think alike! ;-)
I think the issue is whether the ties to slavery have changed it's cultural meaning to such an extent that you can no longer use it without having those connotations, even if you don't want them. Just like a certain word for being stingy is now so associated with a racial epithet that you really can't use it without offending people, even if you didn't mean it offensively. If that makes any sense, lol.
It's totally up to you guys and I don't want to ruin it for you, but I think it's worth considering whether you want these issues associated with your wedding. Maybe there's something else you can jump over that would have the same meaning for you?
It is older than slavery in the states anyway, as several other people have said, the tradition has roots in ancient Celt tradition too. I think especially if you have something explaining it then it would be lovely.
I agree that a small paragraph talking about sweeping away the past, etc, in your program would be lovely. Other than that, go for it.
@little_ladybug:I realize JTB has other origins then slavery. But, in the United States, and more specifically, in the South, unfortunately the ties are to slavery. I think if you want to JTB, do it, but please be sensitive to your guests and their feelings. I think AmeliaBedelia's idea about putting something in the program about it sweeping away the past and the reasons your doing is a great idea.
Oh, I live in a small town and growing up the KKK attacked the school several times and racial tensions have always been high (which my best friend was a black girl and she was part of my family so racial bigots can suck my big toe) that's why it would not be a good thing for a white couple to JTB in my town, but your town might be completely different. That's why I say be sensitive to who will be at your wedding.
I was raised Wiccan by my mother and she bought me books on Wicca constantly. She got me a book on Wiccan/Pagan and other Natural Weddings and the broom was involved in tons of different ways...
"Many witches, wiccans and pagans are already familiar with the usage of the broom as a symbolic way of sweeping out old energies and clearing away negativity. This is also a great usage of it in a wedding, and helps the couple to come together with a "clean slate."
I'm asking for an honest answer here because I HAVE NOT done independent reseach on the subject. Is Jumping the broom a "slavery" issue, or is is an african tradition? Sometimes it seems like the two get confused. I was told (not credible really) that it was an african tradition, but I wasn't sure if that was correct or not.
I think a white person NOT being able to jump the broom is just as hypocritical as saying no one but a jew can get married under and arbor-like structure that resembles what jews call a chuppah. Do you get what I'm saying? You make it what you want it to be. If you think its a nice part of the ceremony DO IT!
I personally find it to be disrespectful for non Black/African American couples to partake in the ceremony due to the history behind it. This is an African tribal marriage ritual of placing sticks on the ground representing the couple's new home together, and the spray of the broom represents all of us scattered and the handle represents the almighty who holds us together. You see, during the slave "transitions" we were not allowed to practice many of the traditional rituals of our past therefore, much of our heritage was lost during this time. So this broom ceremony represents the joining of two families, it's showing respect and pays homage to those who came before us and paved the way. In a nutshell “Broom Jumping" is a ritual, handed down from generation to generation as a symbol for Black/African Americans of a time when our vows were not legal because we were slaves and weren’t considered to be human beings.
I don't see how this is a good idea. I'd find something else that isn't going to be insensitive or offend your guests.
Beautiful Idea, I think you should do what makes you happy, Sweeping away the past and jumping into the future.. I like the idea of a note in the program as well
I personally like the idea and never even heard of it being tied to race until that movie came out. I think mainly African Americans think of it in the context of slavery. Since it originated well before then and slavery has been over for many, many years, I don't see a problem with bringing it back to its original context. Don't get me wrong, slavery was a terrible, terrible thing. But, I don't think we should get rid of traditions in their entirety because of one negative connotation. Now, I can see why it would be terrible and hurtful if you and your FH were members of the KKK and were doing it at your wedding; that would be completely ridiculous and uncalled for. However, if you are doing it in its original context, jump on! Good luck!
I understand that there are many other outliers that can not be controlled, for example the feelings of guests at the wedding. But I think even if it is widely known to be an African American cultural/religious gesture, we should not discourage sharing these traditions with people of different colour and or cultural backgrounds. I would try to see it more as a comemorative symbol than a dig at a specific culture. I think racism and poor ettiqutte in general is more about the degrading of someone or something rather than someone genuinly wanting to embrace a tradition that at its core truely represents a new beginning and happy occasion. You should be able to incorporate this into your wedding while still being sensitive to any negative connotations it may hold for your guests.
@Mstiffanyb: In a nutshell “Broom Jumping" is a ritual, handed down from generation to generation as a symbol for Black/African Americans of a time when our vows were not legal because we were slaves and weren’t considered to be human beings.
That is actually completely false! If you read some of the posts above yours, you will find out the actual history. Seems that many bees are surprised to learn this, but broom jumping was around or a long time before African Americans were doing it, and it is not at all how the tradition started or what it meant.
I have seen many couples jump the broom at their weddings. I grew up knowing it as a Celtic Tradition. Only more recently have I become aware that African Americans used it during slavery. And I only found that out because of Whose Wedding Is It Anyway. Gotta love reality TV.
I say go for it. its a tradition older than the USA itself.
If you're going to do it, I would have your pastor read that paragraph explaining the meaning behind it first, because where i'm from it's not Celtic..it's a black culture thing and they would find it disrespectful
Honestly, I think you should go for it IF you feel like it fits you and I think it's sweet you want to pass it on as a family tradition. However, I would provide an explanation for it, especially if you're getting married in the south like @Kkaattii stated. IMO, just because it's become an African American symbol, doesn't mean that it belongs specifically and ONLY to us-nor are we a monolithic. I personally don't celebrate generic African American stuff ("Oh it's African thing? WHERE in Africa? Ghana? Nambia? South Africa??? Can you trace this to ANYTHING specific???) but I understand that for some in our culture it doesn't matter. I remember growing up in the south and I always associated it with African American history until I got into middle school and learned about Wiccan/Pagan practices. My guy and I have no desire to jump a broom, although we are doing a salt ceremony. Now, if you were planning to jump the broom in some type of disrepectful manner, then I'd feel differently, but I don't see that, at least not from your post. I hope you find a resolution that works for you.
The only people that will find the jumping the broom tradition offensive or hypocritical are those that make assumptions based on popular information, rather than the truth and history.
I think if you included a little note in your program on the REAL history, origin and meaning of how it started then there is no reason you should leave it out. If people choose to continue to be offended after being educated then that is their perogative, you can't please everybody.
I'm Irish and we do a handfasting ceremony. From what I know, jumping the broom is tied to slavery so I wouldn't feel right doing it...but that's just me.
I'm black and I fully support your decision to jump the broom. :)
I just don't think it's that serious. You have a reason for it, there is no malice in your heart, and it's not a "black only" tradition. I think it's nice. If I was a guest I would simply think it was sweet that you weren't afraid to partake in something that is generally associated with blacks. I also think it is a great learning opportunity. I think many people would be surprised to know that this tradition originated in another part if the world. I didn't know that! I wouldn't be offended at all. I think it just serves to prove that every culture has something in common. :)
I wouldn't do it because of the very strong racial/slavery connections, it just seems disrespectful. If you do decide to go for it, try to make it yours in a unique way and have the officiant read a passage about it's meaning for you personally.
JTB being a slavery thing is news to me!!!!
I am pagan, and am considering doing this as well....but we are also trying to have a non denominational ceremony...
I also have to remind people, that in canada, they had IRISH slaves......yup, brought over the poor irish people and used them as slaves...so slavery is NOT only a black/african american issue....
There are several things you can do other than jumping the broom - there is a rushnyk you can step on - your MOH and Best Man lay out the rushnyk and you both take a step forward. It is said that the person to step on it first will be the strong voice in your marraige. Our friends father says He was wise because he allowed his wife to step on it first. "It is smart to let her think she can tell you what to do" They are so cute! Personally, do what you want with your wedding. But I think Jumping the Broom is a little sensitive because of its history. Jumping the Broom was done because legal marriage was not allowed.
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