With graduation coming up, it is important to know where graduation originated from and how the whole commencement process came to be. Graduation was said to start in the twelfth century in various universities in Europe. “Degree” and “graduate” come from Latin word gradus, meaning “step.” Most of our modern graduation traditions come from customs established in the European universities of the Middle Ages.

The traditional graduation outfits also come from the same Europeans ideas. The cap, often called a mortarboard, is believed to have developed from the biretta which is a stiff square hat. The graduation, or scholar’s, gown began to be worn in the twelfth century with the rise of universities. Since the original universities of the Middle Ages had poor heating, scholars wore long gowns with hoods to keep warm. Since most of the scholars were also clerics (religious leaders), they tended to wear their clerical robes. The tassel has been worn on the cap for centuries, but it’s only in the last 40 or 50 years that it has been moved from the right side of the cap before receipt of the diploma to the left side of the cap after receipt of the diploma.

Originally diplomas were hand-written on paper-thin sheepskin before being rolled and tied with a ribbon. This practice ended about 100 years ago when diplomas began to be printed on parchment paper instead, and the sizes were standardized.

At the end of ceremonies, graduates typically toss their caps. Tossing the cap in the air after graduation was started by the U.S. Naval Academy in 1912. Prior to 1912, graduates of the naval academy spent two years as midshipmen and needed to keep their midshipman’s hats to wear. In 1912 the decision was made to immediately commission the graduates as officers. The graduates no longer needed their old hats because they would now wear new officer hats. So, the old midshipman hats were thrown into the air after the commencement ceremony. Throwing caps in the air quickly became popular, resulting in the tradition of graduates of all kinds tossing their caps into the air after commencement.

There are many traditions and historical pieces that come along with graduation. This year when you attend a graduation ceremony, think about from where it originated and all the history that has come along with it.

Diploma, Homeschool. “Graduation Traditions – Where Did They Come From?” Homeschool Diploma, Cornerstone Graduate, 20 July 2022, www.homeschooldiploma.com/graduation-traditions-origins/. Accessed 20 May 2024.