It was in the fourteenth century that brooms were first regarded as a vehicle for witches' transportation. This tradition may stem from the fact that, in many of their ceremonies, witches did dance with a stick between their legs, jumping high in the air. Toward the end of the eighteenth century, the question of witches flying was settled once and for all in an English law court. Lord Mansfield declared that heknew of no law that prohibited flying and, therefore, anyone so inclined was perfectly free to do so. Shortly thereafter, reports of witches flying on broomsticks ceased (except for isolated reports of East Anglican witches skimming across church spires).

And more tidbits.......

It is said that a new broom should sweep dirt out of a house only after it
has swept something in.

An old English Rhyme.....
"Buy a broom in May, and you will sweep your friends away."

Also never sweep after sunset since so doing will chase away happiness or
hurt a wandering soul.

According to Yorkshire belief, should a young girl inadvertently step over a
broom handle she will become a mother before a wife. I will add
here this belief is also Appalachia and rural country folk.

Among the Dyak people of Indonesia brooms made out of the leaves of a
certain plant (doesn't say which plant) are sprinkled with rice water and
blood. These are used to sweep one's house, and the sweepings are placed
into a toy house made of bamboo. The toy house is then set adrift on a
river. It is believed that bad luck will be carried out to sea with it.

In Africa, should a man be struck by a broom, he will grab hold of it and
hit the broomstick seven times, or he will become impotent.

In Sicily, on Midsummer's Eve, people often put a broom outside their homes
to ward off any wickedness that might come knocking.

In Wales, among the Gypsies, an old custom of the broomstick wedding
persisted for some time. The couple solemnized their rites before
witnesses by leaping over a broom placed in a doorway, without dislodging
the broom. Should they wish to dissolve the marriage, they simply had to
reverse the process, jumping backwards out of the house, over the broom,
before the same witnesses.
I have seen this ceremony used in a couple of weddings in this area.

American country folk say no good can come of carrying a broom across water,
leaning a broom against the bed, or burning one. Good luck can be had by
sending a new broom and a loaf of bread into a new home before entering it.

Likewise, brooms laid across the doorways are believed to keep out
bad.
And a few more traditional ones....
Never use a broom when there is a dead person in the house.
Never use a broom to sweep outside the house, unless the inside of the house
has been cleaned first.
Never walk on a broom.
Never sweep upstairs rooms in the afternoon.
Never sweep the room of a departing guest until he has been gone for some
time, or else your sweeping will bring him back
Never bring old brooms into new houses...remember a broom becomes attached
to houses...always leave the old one behind.
Finally.........always sweep dustballs into the middle of a room.....they
will protect against bad luck....

The above was received in an e-mail from a friend which was authored by Gypsy. I don't have any idea where the information was originally from, if you happen to know, please e-mail me so that I can give proper credit.