What Does the Graduation Cap and Gown Symbolize?
The graduation cap and gown is a traditional garment worn by graduates to mark the completion of one stage of life and the transition into the next. Historically, it has been worn as a requirement of higher education and later became an option. What does it mean?
Traditions
The tradition of wearing a cap on graduation dates back to the Middle Ages. Initially, masons held mortar, and later, artists and students to mark their achievements. The red color was symbolic, indicating life and blood. Throughout history, institutions created different caps for different degrees, but the main differences are how they are worn and placed on the head.
Caps and gowns have been used in colleges for centuries, with traditions dating back to the Middle Ages. The clergy often founded early universities, and students and professors wore hoods to signify their status as members of the clergy. In addition to the cap and gown, the mortarboard was an essential part of the academic wardrobe, as it served as a symbol of the university’s religious and scholarly status.
Meaning
The meaning of graduation cap and gown is not exactly clear. Penn state caps & gowns are worn to celebrate a particular day. However, graduates may want to wear a graduation cap to remember the hard work and dedication they put into their education. The tradition dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when clergy members and nuns wore capes to signify their status in the church. Graduation dress became more widely accepted and became a requirement after the Civil War.
The history of graduation regalia is complex. While the original purpose of graduation robes was to celebrate students, today, they are worn to separate the highest achievers from the low-achievers. Unfortunately, this has created a negative culture that makes students feel dumb and overshadows their pride on graduation day. Today’s graduation cap and gown symbolize a new chapter in a student’s life.
Color
The color of your graduation cap and gown should match the school color. If you attended high school, it’s best not to reuse your old cap and gown. Both options come with three-colored tassels and two-wide front pleats. Be sure to follow the deadlines for ordering and purchasing your regalia.
Generally, men’s robes are black, while women’s graduation robes are white. The hood is also black. In the U.S., graduation robes are typically black with a gold lining. The tassel is optional for doctoral graduates. The tassel is not required, but many schools retain their gowns for reuse and sell them. However, the most common request for graduation regalia is to purchase a cap and a tassel set for each student. The tassel is a unique keepsake for each graduate and can be given to the recipient as a keepsake.
Origin
The history of the graduation cap and gown goes back centuries. The hood and cap, which students wear to graduate, originated as a religious symbol, and the practice started at universities in the 12th and 13th centuries. Later, students began wearing academic gowns, and the colors were assigned to the study area. Students and professors would give graduation sermons and dress accordingly. Ultimately, the cap and gown became a symbol of academic achievement and religious status.
The hood is symbolic and was initially worn by priests of the Druid order. This hood represents a graduate’s superior intelligence. Hoods were used as head coverings in cold schools in the Middle Ages. The color of the velvet trim on the hood denotes the degree a graduate holds. Doctoral hoods are white or gold, and masters’ gowns are brown or black.
Colors
The graduation cap and gown colors can either be black, white, or other colors. These colors may be chosen to represent the subjects of the graduate’s degree rather than the degree itself. The colors may also represent the year in which the graduate graduated. A graduate’s hood is usually made of a different material than the cap and gown. A particular cowl may also be worn for an associate degree. The following colors are the most commonly used to designate various degree levels.
The hood, part of the regalia, represents the specific degree-granting institution. Graduates may also wear other graduation accessories, such as an honors stole, at their ceremony
