TYING THE KNOT
Knots are a symbol of unity across many cultures and are used in ceremonies across the globe to represent unity. “Tying the knot” comes from a wedding tradition known as “handfasting”- an ancient Celtic custom where couples hold hands while a witness binds them together with ribbon or cord.
While this custom is typically a part of the Irish, Scottish, and Norse traditions, there is also an African-American tradition that stems from an African ritual where the to-be-wed wrists are bound together while saying their vows, culminating in the officiant tying a knot in the bindings, completing their commitment to each other.
JUMPING THE BROOM
Jumping the broom is a predominantly black wedding tradition that solidifies the couple’s union. This particular tradition is exactly what it says it is: at the culmination of the wedding ceremony, a broom is placed on the floor at the end of the aisle, and the couple jumps over it, thereby pronouncing their marriage.
This custom may seem silly, but it is rooted in deeply held beliefs of sweeping away evil, past loves and losses, and versions of the old you that are not along for this new journey. You are now jumping into the future with your new partner, new life, and new household.
