Editing Broom (section)

== Culture ==
Brooms are used in some rituals.{{Sfn|Nedelcheva|Dogan|Guarrera|2007|p=1}}

[[Jumping the broom]] is a tradition sometimes practiced in [[African American]] weddings in which the couple leaps over a broom to symbolically represent the leap into domestic life. The tradition was practiced by [[enslaved Americans]] and other groups of low social class in the United States through the 19th century. It was revitalized by [[Alex Haley]] after it was prominently featured in his novel ''[[Roots: The Saga of an American Family]]'' in 1976 and became part of a broader reclamation of Black heritage at the time.{{Sfn|Parry|2016|pp=81–83}} Other marginalized groups, such as the [[Celts]] and the [[Romani people|Romani]], have historically been described as practicing similar traditions in Britain.{{Sfn|Parry|2016|p=86}} The precise origin of jumping the broom is uncertain.{{Sfn|Parry|2016|p=84}}

The [[Métis people]] of Canada have a broom dancing tradition. There are broom dancing exhibitions where people show off their broom dancing skills. The lively broom dance involves fast footwork and jumping.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.metismuseum.ca/resource.php/02316 |work=The Virtual Museum of Metis History and Culture |title=Broom Dance, Metisfest 2001 |access-date=January 10, 2024}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], American submarine crews would tie a broom to their boat's [[conning tower]] when returning to port to indicate that they had "swept" the seas clean of enemy shipping.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://victortradingco.com/broom-lore/|title=Broom Lore|website=Victoria Trading Company|access-date=2021-08-28|archive-date=2021-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828223911/https://victortradingco.com/broom-lore/|url-status=live}}</ref> The tradition has been devalued in recent years by submarine crews who fly a broom simply when returning from their boat's shake-down cruise. This tradition may stem from the action of the Dutch admiral [[Maarten Tromp]] who tied a broom to his main mast after defeating the British admiral [[Robert Blake (admiral)|Robert Blake]] at the [[Battle of Dungeness]] in 1652. This has often been interpreted as a message that he would "sweep the British from the seas". This story remains unsubstantiated,<ref>The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 1988, edited by Peter Kemp</ref> but may have its origin in the tradition of hoisting a broom as a sign that a ship was for sale,<ref>"Local Events." Evening Telegram (St. John's, N.L.), 1891-10-14:4.</ref> which seems more likely as Tromp had captured two of Blake's ships in the battle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_dungeness.html|title=Battle of Dungeness, 30 November 1652|access-date=20 April 2012|archive-date=17 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317160554/http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_dungeness.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], it is called ''Baṛhanī'' (prosperer), as it is believed that it's prospers the family and house.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Grierson |first=G.A. |title=Bihar Peasant Life |year=1885 |publisher=The Bengal Secretariat Press|location=London |pages=11}}</ref>

=== Literature ===
* In 1701 [[Jonathan Swift]] wrote a "[[Meditation Upon a Broomstick]]", a parody of [[Robert Boyle]]'s ''Occasional Reflections upon Several Subjects'':
{{quote|But a Broom-Stick, perhaps you will say, is an Emblem of a Tree standing on its Head; and pray what is Man, but a Topsy-turvey Creature, his Animal Faculties perpetually mounted on his Rational; His Head where his Heels should be, groveling on the Earth, and yet with all his Faults, he sets up to be an universal Reformer and Corrector of Abuses, a Remover of Grievances, rakes into every Sluts Corner of Nature, bringing hidden Corruptions to the Light, and raises a mighty Dust where there was none before, sharing deeply all the while, in the very same Pollutions he pretends to sweep away: His last Days are spent in Slavery to Women, and generally the least deserving; till worn to the Stumps, like his Brother Bezom, he is either kickt out of Doors, or made use of to kindle Flames, for others to warm themselves by.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://publicdomainreview.org/collections/a-meditation-upon-a-broomstick-1711/ |title=A Meditation upon a Broomstick (1711) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009113751/https://publicdomainreview.org/collections/a-meditation-upon-a-broomstick-1711/ |archive-date=2016-10-09 |work=[[Public Domain Review]]}}</ref>}}
*In [[J.K. Rowling]]'s ''[[Harry Potter]]'' novels and [[Harry Potter (film series)|film adaptations]], broomsticks are a common form of transport for wizards and witches. These are also used for the magical sport of [[Quidditch]], in which players use their broomsticks to fly around a field and shoot goals.

===Politics===
[[File:General Buhari holding a broom at a campign rally.jpg|thumb|Nigerian opposition politicians holding brooms at a campaign rally]]
For much of the 20th century, political cartoons and propaganda would often depict new or oncoming leaders sweeping away old, corrupt or unpopular figures.

The broom is used as a symbol of the following political parties:
* [[Aam Aadmi Party]], India
* [[All Progressives Congress]], Nigeria

=== Religion ===
* In [[Jainism]], monks and nuns have a little broom with them, in order to gently brush aside ants and small animals, to avoid crushing them. This is part of observing the principle of ''[[Ahimsa in Jainism|Ahinsā]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Jainism/index.aspx|title=Jainism|access-date=2011-03-30|archive-date=2011-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110331095121/http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Jainism/index.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The [[Shakers]] are often credited with the invention of the flat broom.

=== Sports ===
* [[Curling broom]]
* In [[baseball]] and [[basketball]], when the [[home team]] is close to accomplishing a sweep (having won the first two games of a three-game series or first three games of a four-game series), some fans will bring brooms to the ballpark and brandish them as a way of taunting the visiting team (examples: Arkansas vs. LSU, 2011; Red Sox vs. Yankees, May 13–15, 2011 and June 7–9, 2011).
* In [[broomball]], broomsticks have their heads removed and are used to push a ball into a goal, on an ice surface. The game is similar to hockey, except players do not wear skates.