Many people believe that “jumping the broom” is an African custom, but documentation shows it to have started in Europe – England, Wales, Scotland and Hungry, and was a custom of the Romani gypsies, who originated from Egypt and parts of Africa.

In Wales, Romani couples would jump or over a bunch of flowing shrubs or a bundle of twigs that were made into a broom called a besom. The Welsh practiced a centuries-old custom, priodas coes ysgub ("broom-stick wedding"). There are different variations to the tradition – one had the couple jumping over the broom together, another had the groom jump first, and still another placed the broom in a doorway at an angle and they would jump over it as they entered the house. 

Romani gypsies were not welcome in England, and many were sold into slavery and shipped off to Australia and America, where it is believe the practice was passed along. In America both blacks and whites in the south jumped the broom as a part of the marriage ceremony (and for those who were not allowed to marry it served as an unofficial marriage ceremony). 

The custom has several meaning. In the American south, whoever jumped the highest was the decision-maker of the household. Jumping over the broom symbolized various things depending on the culture. In the American south, the custom determined who ran the household. Whoever jumped highest over the broom was the decision maker of the household. Among southern Africans, who were largely not a part of the slave trade, it represented the wife's duty to clean the courtyard of the new home she had joined. In Western Africa brooms were held over the bride and groom’s heads as a sign of the blessing of the ceremony.

In modern America the tradition of jumping the broom has become more popular, and many believe it to symbolize “taking a leap of faith,” although that was a phrase coined by author Harriette Cole in her book, "Jumping the Broom." Today, the jumping of the broom has come to symbolize many different things depending on their culture. 
 

Broom jumping is a brief ceremony often toward the end of the wedding ceremony to symbolize the binding of a couple in marriage, and as a symbol of fertility and prosperity for the couple. It also may signify the “sweeping away” of their former lives and entering into a new adventure. The straws of the broom represent family; the handle represents the Almighty; the ribbon represents the tie that binds the couple together.

Today, many people will incorporate brooms in different aspects of their wedding. Some will have brooms decorated to match their décor – with flowers, ribbons and other accessories and display them in different areas of their reception hall, including the wall.  Others place miniature brooms on the tables to serve as place card holders and decorate them in colors to coordinate with the wedding decor.

One idea would be allow your guests to participate in the ceremony by placing a straw basket full of colorful ribbon pieces at the wedding or reception and allow your guests to write their name or initial on a ribbon and tie ribbons around the broom before the ceremony begins. It begins your life with good wishes from your family and friends, and makes a valuable keepsake for afterward.
 
This ceremony can also be performed at an anniversary or a renewing of vows ceremony.