Smash, Jump, Kiss

You have just been introduced as husband and wife, so what happens next in the ceremony? Depends on your culture. If you are Jewish, the groom will stomp on a wine glass. If you're African American, the couple will jump a broom. I read about a wedding between an African American and a Jewish person and they jumped over a broom and landed on a wine glass to break it. Clever way of combining the two.

Both traditions have meaning behind them. For the Jews, there are several explanations for the glass stomping. Some say it's in remembrance of the burning of the Jewish temple in 70 A.D. by the Romans. Stomping the glass reminds the newly married couple that they may encounter some sorrow in the marriage. Not the happiest of thoughts right after your nuptials. Others say it's based on a story in the Talmud where a Jewish rabbi threw a wine glass on the ground at a wedding to get the attention of some rowdy guests. This apparently calmed them down. My favorite explanation is a Jewish myth which says when we are born, the Lord smashes our soul into two pieces which need to find each other and reunite. At the wedding those two pieces are back together again. Apparently smashing the glass solidifies the relationship permanently. Knowing our luck, had we smashed the glass, it's would have gone right through your Daddy's rented white shoes and into his foot. Of course, the Jewish people wrap the glass in a white cloth to prevent any flying glass and injuries. After the glass is broken, folks shout good luck with a hearty "Mazel tov!"

As for jumping the broom, there are many stories about this as well for different cultures, but for African Americans this started in the 1800's. Slaves then were not permitted to marry because the rights of married folk outweighed those of the master's claims on his slaves, so they wouldn't let them marry (I know, horrible right? Ug). So they would have marriage ceremonies and jump a broomstick to signify they were married. The custom was all but lost until the television mini-series Roots aired in the 1970's and book author Alex Haley reintroduced and explained the custom.

The most popular end to the wedding ceremony ... the kiss! And what does that symbolize? Some say the joining of souls (similar to the Jewish explanation above) and others say it originated with the Romans as a way to seal a contract. For some folks it's the first kiss ever as a couple. Personally I like to just think of it as the very first kiss as husband and wife ... which is momentous enough.

So jump the broom, smash the glass and have a great kiss! Regardless of how you end the ceremony, the end result is the same ... you're hitched! Mazel tov!

Discussion: Have you been to a wedding where folks jumped a broom or smashed a glass? Have you been to a wedding where this was the couple's first kiss ever? What do you think of these traditions?

Prayer: Lord God, the traditions and myths listed above are interesting, especially the idea of the joining of souls. Father, we thank you for the one you've selected for us as two become one flesh. In Christ our Lord, Amen.