Jumping the Broom

As seen in the 2011 American comedy film directed by Salim Akil and produced by Tracey E. Edmonds, Elizabeth Hunter, T.D. Jakes, Glendon Palmer, and Curtis Wallace 'Jumping the broom' has proven to be one of the most practiced rituals. It has been around for quit some time, but do you know the true significance and meaning behind it? You may be surprised to know that this fun fact actually originated from Ashanti out of West Africa. The broom held spiritual value and symbolized sweeping away past wrongs or warding away off evil spirits.

During the slavery era, African slaves were forbidden to marry. Marriage rituals, however, were important events to the slaves so they would make a public declaration of their love and commitment by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums in the presence of the other slaves.

In today's society to jump the broom at the conclusion of a wedding ceremony, is an acknowledgement of the couples roots. The broom, often hand made and beautifully decorated, can be displayed in the couples home after the wedding.

Would you be jumping the broom ?