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Besom

A besom is a traditional broom constructed from a bundle of twigs or brushes tied to a wooden handle, primarily used for sweeping floors, paths, or outdoor surfaces in rural or household settings.^[1]^[2] The term derives from Old English besma, denoting a rod or broom, with roots in Proto-West Germanic besmō, reflecting its longstanding practical role in cleaning before modern brushes emerged.^[3] Historically prevalent in Britain and Scotland, besoms were crafted from materials like birch or heather twigs, offering durability for coarse tasks such as clearing debris from lawns or teasing moss, and remain valued in heritage crafts for their simplicity and effectiveness over synthetic alternatives.^[4] While functionally a utilitarian tool, besoms have entered folklore as symbols of witches' flight, though this stems from medieval superstitions rather than verified historical practice, with no empirical evidence supporting aerial transport claims.^[5]

Definition and Etymology

Core Definition

A besom is a traditional broom made from a bundle of twigs or thin branches fastened to a wooden handle, primarily used for sweeping.^[1]^[6] The term derives from Old English besma, referring to a bundle of rods or twigs, originally associated with instruments for sweeping or punishment.^[3] Unlike modern push brooms or those with synthetic bristles, besoms feature flexible natural materials that allow for effective clearance of debris on uneven surfaces such as dirt paths or stone floors.^[5] Historically prevalent in rural and pre-industrial settings, besoms were crafted from readily available local woods like birch, providing a lightweight and disposable tool for household and outdoor cleaning tasks.^[1] Their construction emphasizes simplicity and functionality, with twigs bound tightly to prevent unraveling during use, distinguishing them from more rigid besom variants employed in sports like curling.^[7] This design has persisted in regions where traditional crafts remain viable, underscoring the besom's role as an enduring implement rooted in practical utility rather than industrialized alternatives.^[5]

Linguistic Origins

The word besom originates from Old English besma or besema, denoting a bundle of twigs or rods employed as a broom, rod for punishment, or flail.^[1] ^[3] This form appears in texts predating the 12th century, with the earliest documented uses tracing to the Old English period before 1150.^[1] The term evolved into Middle English besme or beseme, retaining its primary association with sweeping implements made from bound twigs.^[3] Linguistically, besom derives from Proto-West Germanic *besmō, signifying a broom, which itself stems from broader Proto-Germanic roots linked to bundled vegetation or rods.^[3] Cognates appear in other Germanic languages, such as Old High German besmo, also meaning broom, indicating a shared West Germanic heritage without established Indo-European precursors beyond this family.^[1] In Scots dialects, besom preserved the core meaning of a sweeping tool while extending metaphorically to denote a person, often pejoratively, by the late 18th century, reflecting cultural associations with domestic labor.^[5] This evolution underscores the word's practical origins tied to pre-industrial agrarian tools, distinct from the plant-derived broom (from Latin genista).^[3]

Construction and Materials

Traditional Components

The traditional besom broom consists of a wooden handle, a bundle of twigs forming the sweeping head, and bindings to secure the assembly. The handle, often called the stave, is crafted from straight-grained hardwood such as ash, selected for its strength and slight flexibility, typically measuring 1.2 to 1.8 meters in length to facilitate sweeping without excessive bending.^[8]^[9] The sweeping head is made by gathering and bundling numerous thin twigs, primarily from birch trees harvested from coppiced woodlands, cut to uniform lengths of about 30 to 45 centimeters for effective dirt displacement. Birch is favored for its stiff yet resilient branches, which provide durability during use on rough surfaces like paths or hearths.^[4]^[10] Bindings traditionally employ flexible willow withies or strands, woven or twisted tightly around the base of the twig bundle and the handle's end to form a secure, conical shape; this method ensures the head remains intact under repeated flexing, though modern variants sometimes substitute twine or wire. In regions with abundant heather or broom shrubs, these plants occasionally replace birch for the twigs, adapting to local availability while maintaining similar functional properties.^[9]^[10]

Regional and Modern Adaptations

In regions with abundant birch coppices, such as parts of the United Kingdom, traditional besom construction favors twiggy birch (Betula spp.) growth for the brush head, harvested from managed woodlands to ensure sustainability and straight, flexible twigs ideal for binding. This material choice reflects local ecology, with the craft historically concentrated in these areas for efficient sourcing. Handles typically employ hazel (Corylus avellana) or ash (Fraxinus excelsior) saplings, selected for their straight grain and tensile strength, while bindings use supple willow (Salix spp.) withies to secure the bundle without damaging the twigs.^[4]^[10] Variations occur where birch is scarce; in northern England and Scotland, heather (Calluna vulgaris) or ling serves as an alternative bristle material, yielding a denser, softer head suited to mossy or peaty terrains. Across broader Europe, parallel twig broom traditions adapt to indigenous flora, incorporating genista species (e.g., Genista hispanica in Spain or Sarothamnus scoparius in Mediterranean zones) for resilient, broom-like twigs that mimic besom functionality, though these differ terminologically and are tied with local vines or cords. Such adaptations prioritize regional plant availability and terrain-specific sweeping efficacy, as documented in ethnobotanical surveys of rural practices.^[11]^[12] Contemporary besom making retains core natural materials but incorporates durable synthetic elements for practicality, such as wire or heavy string bindings to replace perishable willow, extending service life in outdoor applications like leaf or snow clearance. Artisanal producers now select diverse hardwoods or reclaimed driftwood for handles, enhancing aesthetic variation and customization for both utilitarian and ceremonial uses, while emphasizing hand-tying techniques to preserve the round, unsewn profile. These modifications, observed in heritage craft revivals, balance tradition with modern demands for longevity without synthetic bristles, which would compromise the tool's textured sweeping action.^[4]^[13]

Historical Uses

Pre-Industrial Applications

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, besoms functioned primarily as handmade sweeping tools in households and rural settings across Europe, where they cleared dirt floors, accumulated debris, and ash from open hearths using bundles of flexible twigs like birch or heather tied to a wooden handle.^[14] These twig brooms, the predominant form available before bristle alternatives emerged in the early 19th century, were crafted locally from coppiced branches and employed daily for maintaining cleanliness in cottages, barns, and village paths without reliance on mechanized production.^[4] In domestic and communal environments, besoms effectively gathered fine particles such as soot and embers from fireplaces, a necessity in pre-industrial homes heated by open flames, with evidence of similar twig-based implements dating to ancient practices for hearth maintenance as noted in biblical references to sweeping rituals.^[15] Their lightweight construction allowed for broad strokes suited to uneven earthen surfaces, outperforming rigid alternatives in absorbing dust rather than scattering it, thus preserving rudimentary hygiene standards in agrarian societies.^[16] Beyond homes, besoms extended to proto-industrial tasks, including the removal of surface impurities from hand-forged metal plates in early metalworking and lining vats for chemical treatments like pickling, where the twigs' absorbency prevented contamination—applications documented in British craft traditions predating factory-scale manufacturing.^[4] This versatility underscored their role as ubiquitous, low-cost implements in pre-industrial economies, reliant on natural materials and manual labor for essential sanitation and preparatory work.^[14]

Transition to Industrial Tools

The transition from handmade besoms to industrial tools accelerated during the early 19th century amid the Industrial Revolution, as mechanized production enabled cheaper, more uniform alternatives to twig brooms. In 1810, the foot-treadle broom machine was invented, automating the binding and stitching of broomcorn (sorghum vulgare) bristles to handles, which proved more durable and effective than birch or heather twigs used in besoms.^[17]^[18] This device, operated by foot power to drive needles through bristles and secure them with wire or twine, reduced production time from hours of manual lashing to minutes, facilitating the shift from artisanal workshops to factories. In the United States, broomcorn cultivation and manufacturing boomed following Levi Dickinson's 1797 adaptation of sorghum for brooms, with output scaling rapidly: 303 factories operated by 1839, producing about one million units annually by 1850.^[18]^[19] Religious communities like the Shakers refined these methods from the mid-1820s, introducing flat broom designs sewn with mechanized wire for better floor contact and longevity, further diminishing demand for round, twig-based besoms in everyday sweeping.^[15] In Britain, where besoms had been a cottage industry since Anglo-Saxon times—crafted by "besom squires" from local birch and bound to hazel or chestnut handles—the adoption of industrial tools was slower due to unsuitable terrain for broomcorn and entrenched traditions.^[15] Imported American broomcorn products and post-1850 innovations like wide push brooms for industrial spaces gradually eroded besom dominance, though manual production endured in regions such as Derbyshire's Peak District into the early 20th century.^[14] By the mid-20th century, synthetic nylon bristles and electric vacuums—enabled by further mechanization and petrochemical advances—largely supplanted both traditional and early industrial brooms for indoor use, confining besoms to niche outdoor or ceremonial roles.^[18]

Practical Functions

Sweeping and Cleaning

A besom serves as a traditional sweeping implement designed for clearing debris from outdoor paths, yards, and uneven indoor surfaces such as stone or earthen floors. Its bundle of stiff twigs, typically birch or broom plant, effectively gathers coarse materials like leaves, soil, gravel, and small branches by pushing them into piles without scattering fine particles excessively on rough terrains.^[20]^[21] In pre-industrial households and rural settings, besoms were commonly used to maintain cleanliness around dwellings and workshops, where their rounded bristle configuration allowed for better adaptation to irregular ground compared to flat modern brooms optimized for smooth floors.^[22] The tool's simplicity and replaceable twig heads made it economical for frequent use in environments with heavy dirt accumulation, such as farmyards or cottage interiors with dirt-packed floors.^[4] Contemporary adaptations, including smaller straw or reed besoms, extend this function to household tasks like tabletop cleaning or compact spaces, though they retain efficacy for multi-surface dirt removal in homes without vacuum access.^[23] These versions emphasize lightweight design for manual sweeping of dust and light debris, often featuring hanging hooks for storage in utilitarian cleaning routines.^[24] Unlike synthetic brooms, natural besoms provide biodegradable disposal of worn bristles, aligning with sustainable cleaning practices in eco-conscious applications.^[25]

Agricultural and Outdoor Tasks

In agricultural contexts, besoms were traditionally used to sweep barns and farmyards, facilitating the removal of straw, dust, and other debris to maintain hygienic conditions for livestock and stored crops.^[26] Their stiff twig construction proved effective for coarse surfaces like packed earth or stone floors common in pre-industrial farm buildings.^[10] For broader outdoor tasks, besoms excel at clearing leaves, rubbish, and light debris from grass, gravel paths, and lawns without damaging underlying surfaces, a practice rooted in British rural maintenance traditions.^[27]^[4] They are particularly suited for teasing moss from turf, dispersing worm casts in pastures or fields—where earthworm activity can hinder grazing or mowing—and brushing away snow from walkways or yard areas during winter.^[4] These applications leverage the broom's flexibility and abrasiveness, making it preferable to modern push brooms for uneven or natural terrains.^[28] In garden-adjacent farming, such as orchards or smallholdings, besoms aid in path clearance to prevent weed overgrowth and facilitate access for machinery or foot traffic.^[29]

Cultural and Symbolic Associations

Folklore and Protective Beliefs

In British rural folklore, the besom was regarded as an apotropaic object capable of repelling malevolent supernatural forces. Households frequently positioned it bristles-up by the door or hung it above the threshold to trap evil spirits, prevent misfortune from entering, and ensure good luck did not "drain out" through the twigs, a belief tied to the broom's sweeping symbolism extending to intangible threats. This practice persisted in English countryside traditions, where the besom's placement was thought to cleanse the home of negative influences beyond mere dust.^[30]^[31] Such customs extended to vulnerable individuals, with besoms placed near children's cradles or beds to shield infants from fairies, changelings, or other otherworldly harms, reflecting a broader faith in the tool's power to "sweep away" decay, sickness, and spiritual peril. In some accounts, wormwood-bound besoms enhanced this protective efficacy due to the herb's reputed exorcistic qualities against harmful entities. Farmers also employed besoms in outbuildings to guard livestock from curses or predatory spirits, underscoring the object's role in agrarian superstitions.^[32] Paradoxically, while valued for defense, a besom laid across a doorway could signal witchcraft to suspicious observers in certain English farming communities, inverting its protective intent into a marker of the occult. These beliefs, documented in 19th- and early 20th-century rural lore, highlight the besom's dual folkloric identity as both safeguard and potential omen, though empirical evidence for their efficacy remains absent, rooted instead in cultural transmission of pre-modern causal intuitions about ritual barriers.^[33]

Associations with Witchcraft and Rituals

![Preparation for the witches' sabbath][float-right] The association between besoms and witchcraft emerged prominently in European folklore during the early modern period, particularly in depictions of witches flying to sabbats on broomsticks. This imagery appears in demonological texts and trial records from the 15th to 17th centuries, where accused witches confessed to anointing staffs or brooms with hallucinogenic ointments containing plants like belladonna or henbane to induce trance-like states interpreted as flight.^[34] Such confessions, often extracted under torture during witch hunts, describe gatherings at sabbats where participants allegedly arrived via besoms, though these accounts reflect inquisitorial projections rather than verifiable practices.^[34] In Germanic folklore, the broom's symbolism ties to figures like the goddess Holda, who led the Wild Hunt and was linked to witchcraft, with brooms serving as tools for traversing spiritual boundaries.^[35] Historical evidence suggests practical concealment: witches purportedly hid ritual wands within besom bristles to evade detection, as brooms were mundane household items unlikely to arouse suspicion in courts.^[36] This utility extended to signaling: a besom placed outside a door indicated a practitioner's presence or ongoing work to fellow occultists.^[37] Beyond flight myths, besoms featured in folk magic rituals for purification and protection, predating widespread witch persecutions. In rural traditions, brooms swept away negative energies or psychic residues before ceremonies, a practice echoed in later Wiccan rites but rooted in pre-Christian customs of cleansing sacred spaces.^[32] Brooms were also employed apotropaically, placed near cradles or doorways to ward off malevolent spirits, inverting the narrative of brooms as witchly tools by positioning them as defenses against witchcraft.^[32] These uses highlight the besom's dual role in folklore—as both an instrument of alleged maleficium and a barrier against it—grounded in empirical household applications rather than supernatural efficacy.^[38]

Traditions in Russia and Ukraine

In Russia, the venik—a traditional besom consisting of bundled birch, oak, or eucalyptus twigs tied to a short handle—plays a central role in banya rituals, the steam bath practices dating back centuries and integral to cultural wellness. Participants, after steaming in the parilka (steam room), use the venik to perform a light whipping or fanning massage on the body, which stimulates blood circulation, exfoliates the skin, and releases aromatic oils from the leaves to aid respiratory health and relaxation.^[39]^[40] This practice, often conducted in groups, emphasizes hygiene and social bonding, with veniki harvested fresh in summer for optimal pliability and scent.^[41] Historically, the venik also served practical roles beyond the banya, such as light corporal emphasis in domestic disputes without causing harm.^[41] In Ukraine, besom-like brooms known as vinyky, woven from willow or other natural fibers, represent a longstanding artisanal tradition concentrated in villages such as Savran, Osychky, and Vilshanka in the Podillia region. These eco-friendly tools, handcrafted by local families as a generational craft, are used for sweeping and cleaning, prized for their durability and biodegradability over synthetic alternatives.^[42] Production peaks in summer, with weavers bundling twigs into ergonomic shapes, supporting rural economies through sales at markets.^[43] Shared East Slavic folklore in both Russia and Ukraine associates besoms with supernatural elements, particularly witchcraft. Figures like Baba Yaga, a recurring character in tales from these regions, are depicted riding a broom (pomelo or besom) or mortar to traverse skies, symbolizing mobility between worlds and embodying ambiguous forces of nature and mischief.^[44] Ukrainian variants emphasize witches ascending chimneys on brooms for nocturnal flights, linking the tool to rituals of evasion and enchantment.^[45] These motifs underscore the besom's dual role as mundane utility and symbolic ward against or conduit for otherworldly influences.

Modern Revival and Craft

Contemporary Manufacturing

Contemporary besom manufacturing remains a niche, artisanal craft dominated by small-scale workshops that employ traditional hand-tying techniques with birch twigs or similar coppiced materials bound to wooden handles. In the United Kingdom, fewer than five commercial producers operate, often integrating besom production with other coppice-derived goods like pea sticks, reflecting a decline from pre-industrial scales but sustained by heritage demand.^[4] One such maker, A. Nash in Tadley, Hampshire, handcrafts approximately 120 besoms annually, including supplies for the British royal household, using locally sourced birch and hazel sourced from managed woodlands.^[46] In North America, production emphasizes sustainability, with makers like Besom in Prince Edward County, Ontario, foraging windfallen branches from local forests to minimize environmental impact and avoid commercial logging.^[47] These operations forgo mechanization, relying on manual bundling and securing with natural fibers or twine, which allows for customization but limits output to dozens or hundreds per year per artisan. Variations include dyed broomcorn (Sorghum vulgare) bristles plaited in Appalachian styles by producers such as Three Moon Brooms, blending historical methods with contemporary aesthetics for both functional and decorative items.^[48] While mass production is absent due to the labor-intensive nature and low demand outside rural or revivalist markets, workshops and Etsy-based artisans have proliferated since the 2000s, offering kits and classes that teach twig harvesting, trimming to uniform lengths (typically 18-24 inches), and lashing to handles with wire or cord for durability.^[49] This revival counters synthetic broom dominance, prioritizing biodegradable materials amid growing interest in eco-friendly tools, though economic viability hinges on niche sales rather than broad utility.^[50]

Cultural and Decorative Uses

In modern craft communities, besoms are handmade into decorative items by wrapping commercial brooms or natural twigs with twine, ribbons, beads, charms, or gemstones to create personalized ornaments suitable for altars, mantels, or seasonal displays.^[51] These embellished versions emphasize rustic aesthetics, often using materials like jute or nylon twine for a harvest-themed look, as seen in tutorials for autumn besoms constructed from dowel rods and bundled sticks.^[52] Besoms serve as home decorations worldwide, particularly during Halloween or Samhain celebrations, where they are displayed on porches or indoors to evoke traditional or folkloric motifs without functional sweeping intent.^[53] Smaller miniature besoms, crafted from natural materials, are commonly placed on shelves or as symbolic accents in living spaces, blending utility with ornamental value in contemporary interiors.^[54] In craft markets and artisan productions, besoms appear in themed variants, such as those wrapped in multicolored twine for playful accents, highlighting their shift toward aesthetic rather than purely practical roles in modern households.^[55] This revival aligns with broader interests in sustainable, handcrafted goods, where besoms symbolize heritage while functioning as low-maintenance decor elements.^[56]

References

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Etymology. Middle English beseme, from Old English besma; akin to Old High German besmo broom ; First Known Use. before the 12th century, in the meaning defined ...
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besom, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary
Earliest known use. Old English. The earliest known use of the noun besom is in the Old English period (pre-1150). besom is a word inherited from Germanic.
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Besom brooms are extremely versatile and can be used for clearing leaves and rubbish from grass, teasing moss from a lawn, getting rid of worm casts, getting ...
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BESOM, n. 1. A sweeping implement. In Sc. besom is used very much as broom in Eng. except that it is never applied (like broom) to a plant.
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noun · a broom, esp one made of a bundle of twigs tied to a handle · curling a broom or brush used to sweep the ice in front of the stone to make it slide farther.
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Gather together about a dozen or so birch twigs, cut to similar length, and bundle with knotted jute twine. Repeat to create 4-6 birch bundles.Missing: construction | Show results with:construction
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The humble broom is one of the oldest human inventions. The earliest brooms likely consisted of leafy branches or bundles of twigs, held in the hand.
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Small Besom Made of Straw for Sweeping Floors Sweeping Tabletops Dirt Removal Cleaning and Compact and Lightweight Household Cleaning Tools.
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Feb 9, 2025 · Made from natural materials like birch twigs and hazel handles, besoms were the original broom for sweeping hearths, paths, and barns.
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Made from hazel and birch our brooms are ideal both indoors and out for sweeping and cleaning, removing leaves and other rubbish from grass or gravel.
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The magical purpose is “to keep the luck from running out” and down the bristles, but it also has a very beneficial effect of making the broom last much longer.
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Besom Brooms are heavily associated with Halloween as the classic ...
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Nash supplies the Queen with about 120 besoms a year from his workshop in the village of Tadley, Hampshire.
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Our broom heads or bristles are made of harvested broomcorn(Sorghum vulgare), hand-dyed or natural, bound and hand-plaited in the custom, Appalachian tradition ...Broom Lore · Once Upon A Broom · Upcoming Events Fall 2023 · Ash & ThornMissing: contemporary | Show results with:contemporary<|separator|>
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4.7 1.5K Welcome to The BROOMCHICK at SCHEUMACK BROOM COMPANY, proudly offering handmade functional brooms, besoms & walking sticks on ETSY since 2008!<|control11|><|separator|>
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At Hearth Craft Brooms, the mundane and magical interweave through the artistic creation of natural, handmade brooms that blend fine craft, folk tradition, ...
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For this project you will need: A large dowel rod about 1 inch in diameter, 2 feet in length, A spool of 18-gauge nylon twine, A stick sturdy enough to be your ...
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Besom - The Witch's Broom - The Alternative Path
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Candy Shop Besom - Handmade Broom
18-day deliveryThis petite Besom is wrapped in multicolored twine, giving it a fun pop of color on its delicate silhouette. Great for practical use around the house, ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Crafting Your Own Besom: Explore The Magic Of The Witch's Broom
Oct 22, 2023 · Traditionally used as a cleaning tool for witches, the besom has a rich history rooted in folklore and myth. But today, besoms are also used in ...