Wedding expert Nicole Harris tells Brides, "After exchanging vows and saying I do,' the officiant will either provide a prayer, poem, or a brief explanation of the meaning of jumping the broom. The broom is then placed on the ground and the newlyweds jump over it."
This practice is believed to bless the marriage and the first steps of the couple's union. Brooms have major significance in West African culture, where some argue the tradition came from. It was believed that waving a broom over a newly married couple's heads would ward off evil spirits. according to Brides. Nowadays, couples aren't as concerned with evil spirits ruining their day, but the act of jumping the broom remains for its significant cultural ties.
The origins of this tradition aren't exact, however. Some people claim that the tradition of jumping the broom was practiced by the Roma people of Wales first, symbolizing the union of two people when they weren't allowed to be married by the church. Oprah Daily reports that "the tradition of jumping the broom traveled from Britain to the colonies." African Americans may have adapted this tradition during slavery to symbolize their union when they weren't allowed to legally get married (via Insider). This ceremony was captured in the 1977 television series "Roots," renewing the tradition in many African American families who felt it was a significant way to honor their history (via Oprah Daily).
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