The superstition of never taking a broom when moving to a new house is a longstanding belief deeply rooted in folklore and historical associations with witchcraft. While many household items are subject to superstitions, the broom, in particular, carries significant weight due to its perceived connection to the spirit world and its role in both practical and ritualistic practices throughout history.

Historically, the broom’s origins are intertwined with pagan fertility rituals. Its phallic shape led to its use in agricultural practices, with farmers symbolically mounting the broom and leaping high in the air, hoping to promote the growth of their crops. This early association with magical potency meant the broom was soon employed in other household spells and protective measures.

Culturally, the broom’s significance evolved to include the ability to repel black magic when placed across a home’s threshold. Rural wise women and healers also used brooms as wands for charms and cures. In the Czech Republic, the annual festival of Čarodějnice (the burning of the witches) on April 30th involves the traditional burning of broomsticks on communal bonfires, highlighting the broom’s enduring association with magic and purification. The broom’s link to witchcraft is a central theme. Folklore across Europe associates witches with broomsticks, believing they used them to fly to their sabbats, magic gatherings. This cemented the belief that broomsticks were particularly susceptible to the influence of spirits and spells.

The superstition that one should not take an old broom to a new house stems from the belief that the broom can carry evil spirits or negative energy from the old dwelling into the new one. In contrast, a new broom is often seen as a symbol of a fresh start, capable of bringing good luck to a new home. Wiccan traditions reflect this spiritual association; modern Wiccans often use brooms as altar tools to clear sacred spaces by sweeping away negative or distracting energies. This spiritual cleansing aspect is directly linked to the origin of the superstition.

In modern interpretations, the superstition persists, albeit often more as a quaint tradition than a deeply held fear. It’s a reminder of the historical associations of the broom with both practical household tasks and deeper spiritual beliefs. Other related superstitions include the belief that it’s unlucky to buy a broom in May (‘Brooms bought in May, sweep the family away’) and that it is unlucky to sweep after dark. The latter belief can be traced back to the fourteenth-century persecution of witches, when a woman seen with a broom after dark was suspected of sweeping a spell towards someone and could face accusations of witchcraft. While belief in witchcraft and hexes might have diminished, the symbolic power of the broom and its associated superstitions continue to resonate in various cultures.