What is jumping the broom? A meaningful ritual to celebrate your marriage
- Jul 30
- 2 min read
Jumping the broom is a wedding custom where the couple hold hands and leap over a broom together. The broomstick represents sweeping away their past and jumping into married life together. As a wedding celebrant, I love a ritual and encourage you to include them in your ceremony, if they feel right for you.
Where does jumping the broom come from?
Before the abolition of slavery in the United States, jumping the broom was a significant moment for African American couples. If you were enslaved, you were not legally allowed to marry, so this ritual marked their commitment to each other.
Used across the world to celebrate love, jumping the broom has appeared in other cultures, too, such as Romani and Welsh marriages.
It also ties in nicely with the saying 'jumping for joy', a physical demonstration of your happiness on your wedding day. A leap of love.
A popular ritual for spooky, folklore-loving couples
Thanks to the use of the broomstick, it's no surprise that this ritual has become popular with gothic, folklore-loving couples who want to add a witchy, spooky element to their ceremony.
How can I jump the broom at my wedding?
Firstly, get yourself a broomstick. Decorate it with ribbons, crystals, charms, bells, crystals...anything that matches your vibe.
Some couples sweep the floor together, symbolising brushing away your past life.
You could say some vows or a promise before you take the leap.
Then, we place the broom on the floor, and you hold hands with your partner, jumping over it.
The broom jump works well at the end of your wedding ceremony. You can also invite all your guests to step over the broom, too, for some audience participation.
Get in touch to check if I am available to host your own magical ceremony.
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