Jumping the Broom is an African-American tradition handed down from generation to generation to remind those present at the ceremony of a time when the vows of Africans were not legally sanctioned. During slavery, the ancestors sought the legitimacy of marriage by jumping over the broom and into the bonds of domesticity. This was a small ritual legally connecting the couple with the heritage of their home land and giving legitimacy, dignity and strength to their unions. In the Ancestors eyes this union was now sanctioned by "the almighty."
Simple text that could be included in the wedding program or spoken at the end of the ceremony should you decide to include this tradition:
"(Insert bride and groom's name) will jump over the broom to symbolize sweeping away
the old and welcoming the new. Also, it
pays homage to those who came before and paved the way. Now Jump the Broom!"
Until next time...WEDologize!
(Photo credit - www.vsphoto.com; some content - http://www.african-weddings.com)
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