Broom

With a broom is a utility subject to sweeping up dirt and debris from floors.

Broom species

A distinction is made between large and small brushes for domestic and street brooms and machine used.

A large broom usually consists of a long broom handle, a wooden cross, the bolt so-called, and the bristles made of animal hair, vegetable fiber or plastic. In a simpler, possibly produced by a broom-maker form that was previously disseminated more frequently, the twig broom or besom ( broom Riedel also regionally ), no tie exists. Instead, a bundle of twigs or straw is fastened directly with string or wire on wooden stick. When using birch branches of the twig broom a large birch with wooden handle similar.

A special version of the big broom is the Schraubbesen. With this, the lower end of the broom handle is provided with a thread which is screwed into the shaft of the brush bar and connected with it, to use the brush as a whole in its function as a cleaning device can. The Schraubbesen has the advantage of being able to replace the bolt when operational wear separately. The handle can be reused. This is an important contribution to the prevention of waste and the conservation of resources.

In addition, there are special quick-change systems are in use, which allow on a stem to use different cleaning equipment ( mop, broom puller) or worn or damaged parts approach to exchange without tools.

With a small brush ( also hand brush, hand brush, dust mop, broom or (hand) called owl) is a short handle attached directly in the longitudinal direction on the latch and turns into this. For a small broom includes a dustpan to receive the rubbish.

A push broom was established by chimney sweeps device. It is used to clean the chimneys of soot residues. It is made ​​of metal and consists of a flat star-shaped disc is arranged bristles.

Brooms are also used in street sweepers. These rotate from manual or motorized force under or next to the machine and thus promote the dirt into the storage hopper.

Materials

The broom handle is made of wood, metal or plastic. The grip may be coated with a special coating of plastic, coated with paint or provided with a fixed metal part.

The bristles are made from plant, animal or synthetic fibers for special applications of metal.

Horsehair typically fine hall brooms are made ​​for sweeping smooth floors, but also so-called parlor hand brush, with which, thanks to the fat content in the horsehair can be worked without much Staubaufwirbeln. Also, brooms made ​​of wood not act electrostatically with natural bristles as opposed to plastic broom.

Coconut and arenga bristles come in universally usable broom used, which can be used to both smooth even on rough floors. Your bristles are stiffer and more resistant to moisture suitable as horsehair and therefore also partly as a street broom.

Other possible natural materials for broom bristles are Bassine ( leaf fibers of the sago palm ), rice root ( root fibers of the Zacatonpflanze ) and Piassava. An artificial fibers PVC, polypropylene and polyamides are used. Combinations of plant and synthetic fibers are also possible.

In addition, in recent times, " Rubber Broom " with knob-like bristles bound instead of rubber.

The plants most commonly used for rod or broom are in addition to the white birch vary by region broom, heather and honeysuckle.

Broom in tradition and mythology

The broom of particular importance Already the ancient Romans was ascribed. For example, midwives swept with a broom blessed the threshold of the house, in which a birth had taken place, to keep evil influences of the newborn and the new mother.

In some weddings gypsy peoples belonged to a jump over a broom for ritual. In modern times, gypsy broom should serve to keep Gypsies. The origin of this ritual could go back to the fact that it was assumed to exceed the witches no broom or jump, so that for example a broom handle to hold on the ground, on the doorstep wizards and witches from entering the house. On the inability to exceed a broom, should they therefore can recognize. Paradox appears here, the witches do not exceed a broom, but they can ride on it. This refers to the different orientations of the popular medieval superstition.

In the Middle Ages the broom was considered aircraft of the witches ( witches 'broom ), on which they rode to the witches' Sabbath. From this idea out, which could hold in Europe a long time, come many superstitions: So it is true in many places, for example, as inauspicious, if you have to carry a broom across a river. Thus, a witch can fly a broom, she has to rub or brush before with a witch or flying ointment.

In Bremen and region, it is customary that men who are 30, must sweep if they are not married or officially engaged. Such a sweeping takes place in places like the cathedral steps or market places in the rule. It must be swept until we find a virgin for free kisses. In the Fegeritual the man to show that he can take care of house and home, so he finds a woman to marry. See also: Domtreppenfegen

Goethe's " Sorcerer's Apprentice" shows what can happen when an unqualified person wants to swing a broom with magic power. The design of the water- bearing magic broom in Goethe's sorcerer's apprentice comes from the factory Philopseudes of Lucian of Samosata.

Broom in religious contexts

In Jainism, the monks and nuns wear small bushy broom with them to sweep their walks and charity programs microorganisms and insects to the side, so as not to injure or kill. This would bring the Jain doctrine According bad karma and therefore they are trying to gently sweep out of the way with a broom or brush, possible micro-organisms. Therefore, the broom is one of the few possessions of every Jain monk. However, the brush must first be awarded by the Head of the Order of the Adept or ordained on entering the respective orders.

Broom Museums

  • In Mochental palace north of Ehingen (Donau) in Alb- Donau-Kreis is a broom museum. There rarities and ordinary brush from around the world are gathered from the Dattelpalmrippe from the Bedouin tent to an elephant tail broom with silver hardware.
  • The museum is located in Günzburg broom worlds. In the private museum about 300 brooms from over 60 countries will be issued to 100 m².
  • The Bürstenbindermuseum Ramberg in the Rhineland-Palatinate local church Ramberg at Annweiler am Trifels documented in a former broom factory the history of the craft.
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