Where exactly did the origin and meaning of “jumping the broom” come from?
Origin of Jumping the Broom: During the time of slavery in America, slaves could not marry legally. Therefore, they created their own rituals to honor their unions; one of the rituals was the jumping the broom. The broom is a symbol of sweeping away the old and welcoming the new–a new beginning. The leap that the couple takes over the broom represents the “leap of faith” they take when starting a new life together.