Jumping the Broom: A Wedding Tradition with Many Roots

(Updated August, 2026) 

Jumping the broom is a historic wedding tradition with origins that are still debated today. Some historians associate the custom with Wales and other Celtic traditions, while others trace it to the Romani people living in Wales. Over time, the ritual also became deeply significant in African American history, particularly during the era of slavery in the United States when enslaved couples were often denied the legal right to marry.

Because the tradition appears in several cultures and has evolved over centuries, no single origin has been universally accepted. Today, jumping the broom is practiced around the world as a meaningful way for couples to symbolize the beginning of married life together.

 

Welsh, Celtic, and Romani Traditions

One of the earliest written references to jumping the broom dates to the 18th century and is connected to the Romani people living in Wales. Others believe the custom originated with the Welsh themselves before spreading among neighboring Celtic communities. Variations of the tradition have been practiced by Welsh families, Celtic revival groups, Druids, and the nomadic Romani.

In parts of Wales, common-law broomstick weddings were known as priodas coes ysgub, a centuries-old custom that reflected the importance of the broom as a household symbol.

Jumping the Broom in African American History

Another well-known tradition associates jumping the broom with African American weddings during slavery. Because enslaved people were generally prohibited from entering into legally recognized marriages, many couples held their own ceremonies before family and friends, sealing their commitment by stepping over a broom together.

Some historians believe this custom developed independently, while others suggest it was adapted from existing British or Welsh folk traditions. Regardless of its exact origins, jumping the broom became a powerful symbol of commitment, dignity, and family despite overwhelming hardship.

 

The Besom Broom

The broom traditionally used in these ceremonies was often a besom broom, made by binding twigs or straw around a sturdy wooden handle.

During the 18th century, besom brooms were commonly placed just inside the doorway of a home with the bristles pointing upward to ward off evil spirits and protect the household. Sometimes they were hung above the doorway with the bristles facing the entrance as a symbol of good fortune. As one of the homemaker's essential tools, the broom naturally became associated with caring for the home and beginning a new household.

Today, many couples view jumping the broom as representing the start of a shared life together while symbolically sweeping away their former lives, worries, and challenges.

Four Ways Couples Jump the Broom

Although the origins of jumping the broom continue to be debated, modern couples have embraced the tradition in many different ways. Wedding planners frequently incorporate it into ceremonies or receptions as a meaningful symbolic ritual.

Some common variations include:

• Place the broom at an angle near the rear door of the church. The groom jumps first, followed by the bride.
• Lay the broom on the floor, allowing the bride and groom to jump over it together while holding hands.
• Place the broom across the threshold of the couple's new home, with each spouse taking turns stepping or jumping over it.
• Have the groom carry the bride over the broom as they enter their home together.

Another historic variation involved the couple jumping over a crossed broom and sword held by the best man and maid of honor. The sword symbolized cutting ties with the past, while the broom represented sweeping away former obligations as the couple crossed into a new stage of life.

Tajiri 36" Jump Broom for Wedding

Jumping the Broom Today

Many modern couples personalize their ceremony by decorating a broom to match their wedding colors or reflect their family heritage. Others purchase handcrafted ceremonial brooms created specifically for weddings.

Some couples who wish to avoid the broom because of perceived Wiccan associations choose instead to step over a ceremonial sword or another meaningful object that better reflects their beliefs.

Whether viewed as a Welsh folk custom, a Celtic tradition, a Romani practice, or an important part of African American wedding history, jumping the broom continues to symbolize leaving the past behind and beginning a new life together. Its enduring appeal lies in its simple yet powerful message: two people crossing a threshold into marriage, united in hope for the future.

If you enjoy learning about historic wedding customs, you may also enjoy our article on Barefoot Weddings: An Ancient Celtic Wedding Tradition, which explores another fascinating marriage tradition rooted in Celtic history.

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The Nurnberg Bridal Cup: A German Wedding Tradition of Love and Luck

(Updated December 2025)

For centuries, the German Bridal Cup has been a powerful symbol of unity, devotion, and good fortune. Couples all over the world still use this charming two-part chalice in their ceremonies or receptions, but the tradition began with a love story that is just as captivating today as it was hundreds of years ago.

Before sharing how the cup works and how you can incorporate it into your wedding, here’s the legend that gave rise to the tradition.

 

   

The Legend of the Nürnberg Bridal Cup

Long ago in Nürnberg, Germany, a wealthy nobleman lived with his daughter, the beautiful and strong-willed Mistress Kunigunde. She fell deeply in love with a young goldsmith — a talented, ambitious craftsman with little wealth but a great deal of heart.

Her father, however, had already envisioned a more “suitable” match. One wealthy suitor after another came to ask for her hand, and one after another she refused them, holding firmly to her love for the goldsmith.

Enraged by her defiance, the nobleman ordered the young goldsmith to be thrown into the darkest dungeon in the city. Kunigunde wept endlessly, but her father remained unmoved. As the days passed, her heartbreak began to show; her complexion grew pale, her spirit dimmed, and the nobleman could no longer ignore her grief.

Finally, at his wits’ end, he offered a challenge he believed to be impossible:

"If your goldsmith can create a chalice from which two people can drink at the same time without spilling a drop, I will set him free — and you may marry him."

The Goldsmith’s Masterpiece

Driven by love and hope, the goldsmith poured all his skill into the task. What he created was nothing short of extraordinary:

• A beautifully sculpted young maiden — her smile said to resemble Kunigunde’s.

• Her skirt formed a hollow cup.

• Above her head she held a small, swiveling bucket, crafted so that it moved freely as she was lifted.

The design allowed two people to drink at once, each from a different cup, without spilling a single drop.

Against all expectations, the goldsmith triumphed. The nobleman kept his word, the young couple married, and they were said to have toasted their union with the ingenious chalice now celebrated as the German Bridal Cup.

Handcrafted bridal cups can still be purchased today.

The Bridal Cup as a Modern Wedding Tradition

Today, the Bridal Cup remains a cherished symbol of:

• Love

• Good luck

• Faithfulness

• Unity between partners

Using it during your wedding adds a touch of Old-World romance and often becomes one of the most memorable moments of the celebration. Couples typically drink simultaneously, one from the skirt cup and one from the smaller bucket cup, making for a wonderful photo opportunity and a delightful shared laugh.

Handcrafted bridal cups are still made today, often by artisans who honor the traditional Nürnberg design. They make beautiful keepsakes and can be displayed proudly long after the wedding day.

Tips for Using the German Bridal Cup

Drinking from a Bridal Cup does take a bit of practice! Consider:

• Doing a quick test-run before the ceremony or reception

• Letting your officiant explain the tradition to your guests

• Having your photographer ready — the moment is always camera-worthy

If you love the idea of incorporating a meaningful drinking vessel but want something slightly easier to manage, the Scottish quaich is a lovely alternative. It also carries a rich history and symbolizes hospitality, friendship, and unity.

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History of flower girls

Today, flower girls are a pretty standard (but precious) part of most wedding parties. Some brides choose to have one flower girl, while others may have several. They are an adorable wedding tradition, but have you ever wondered about the history of flower girls? Like many wedding traditions the origins are not 100 percent certain. Some sources say the origin of flower girls goes back centuries to Ancient Rome while others suggest the tradition got its start in Britain.

Ancient Rome flower girls didn't carry flowers

The tie to ancient Rome goes back to young attendants who carried sheaves of wheat and herbs to ensure blessings of prosperity and fertility to the married couple. By the Medieval times, it was bouquets of garlic which were believed to ward off evil spirits.

Elizabethan Era flower girls

It was during the Elizabethan Era that the tradition of scattering flower petals came into practice.  At that time, brides followed a path of petals from their house to the church. To create this path, flower girls followed musicians in a wedding procession and carried a gold-plated rosemary branch and a silver cup adorned with ribbons and filled with flower petals and rosemary sprigs. This cup was known as the bride's cup, and the petals were considered a symbol of fertility and thought to give the couple good luck.

 

Victorian Era flower girls

In the Victorian era flower girls looked more like the flower girls of today. They were young and innocent and dressed in a simple white dress which was sometimes adorned with a colored sash made of satin or silk. She carried a gorgeously decorated basket filled fresh blooms or wore a floral hoop on her head. The circular shape of the hoop was symbolic of true love which has no end -- the same meaning bestowed on wedding rings.

In Western Europe, the tradition of including children as attendants in weddings also included a ring bearer and often included other attendants in the wedding party, too. Many royal and society weddings still follow this tradition today with two or more flower girls.

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History of wedding cake toppers

If I say wedding cake topper, what do you picture? It might be a miniature bride and groom, wedding bells or some other similar ornamentation with a wedding theme. While the history of wedding cakes dates back to the Roman Empire, it was nothing like wedding cakes as we know them today. Instead they were unsweetened loaves of bread which were crumbled over the bride for good luck. And wedding cake toppers as we know them haven't been around all that long either. They became a growing trend with middle class and affluent American families before the American Civil War. By the 1890s, they were quite common.

Those original wedding cake toppers weren't anything extravagant. Cakes were decorated with things like flowers, bells, or other small objects related to the bride and groom. Often these toppers were handmade by a family member or a professional wedding cake baker using frosting, icing, or non-edible materials like plaster of Paris.

Wedding cake toppers popular after World War I

Decorative cake toppers grew more popular after World War I. It was in the Roaring 20s that High Society in the U.S. adopted the custom of using figurines of the bride and groom atop the wedding cake. Popularity of this tradition grew quickly after Emily Post, American etiquette expert, mentioned them in her 1922 best seller that said, "wedding cake is an essential of every wedding reception," and went on to comment on the placement of the bride and groom figurines in the description of a beautifully decorated cake. In the early 1900s wedding cake toppers were made from glass, paper, or wood until they started being commercially made.

First commercially made wedding cake toppers

Along with this, American retailers like Sears & Roebuck started to market and sell cake toppers showcasing a bride and groom. By 1924 you could find an assortment of two-inch tall bride and groom toppers made from wax and featuring differences like groom without a hat or wearing a top hat. The bride could be purchased without a veil or wearing a cloth veil. By 1927, the Sears catalog had an entire page devoted to wedding cake ornaments.

With their growing popularity, wedding cake toppers started to be mass produced commercially in the U.S., Europe and Asia. They were available in the usual bride and groom side-by-side pose along with a selection of alternative poses. And during or following the War, the groom was sometimes depicted wearing a military uniform. Along with this, groom figurines could also be purchased a wearing police or fireman uniform, too.

Sparkling Love Cake Topper

Aside from bride and groom figurines, today we have toppers like cupids, hearts, love birds and sometimes even a framed picture of the couple. The tradition of adding a decorative ornament topper to the wedding cake has been joined with the tradition of removing and saving the memento as well as freezing the top layer of the cake to be eaten by the bride and groom on their first anniversary.

 
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Historical roles of best man and bridesmaids

Most wedding traditions we know today stem from some rather unexpected origins. Take the wedding party, for example. A couple of centuries ago, the "best man" wasn’t responsible for planning bachelor parties, holding onto the ring, or giving a witty wedding toast. Instead, his role was far more serious. He served as armed backup for the groom, especially if the groom needed to kidnap his bride from disapproving parents. Even the term "best" didn’t mean best friend. It meant the groom’s strongest ally; the man best with a sword. 

Best man was chosen because he was "best" with a sword.

The Best Man: From kidnap to guard Duty

The tradition of the best man is thought to have originated among the Germanic Goths, at a time when men were expected to marry within their community. With too few eligible women to go around, bachelors often had to raid neighboring villages to claim a bride. The groom needed someone dependable at his side, and his “best” man was chosen for his fighting skills and loyalty.

Even the modern arrangement of the ceremony reflects this history—the bride stands to the groom’s left so his right hand is free to draw a weapon if necessary.

But the best man’s job didn’t end once the wedding vows were spoken. He stood guard beside the groom throughout the ceremony, and later, even kept watch outside the newlyweds’ chamber to protect them from angry relatives or to make sure the bride didn’t try to escape.

 

Bride kidnapping

The Bridesmaids: Decoys in Disguise

While the best man relied on strength, bridesmaids played their own protective role with clever disguise. In ancient times, bridesmaids dressed in gowns similar to the bride’s so that, as the group approached the church, evil spirits, jealous ex-lovers, or would-be kidnappers couldn’t easily single her out.

Bridesmaids wore dresses similar to the bride's.

Even the groomsmen joined in the protective strategy by wearing matching suits, creating a wall of confusion to deflect curses, stones, or attackers.

And as for the maid of honor? Her role was decidedly practical. She was expected to create and put up all the wedding decorations.

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