Wearing academic robes is a tradition that dates back to at least the 12th Century, around the time when the first universities were being founded in Europe. During this time, most scholars were also clerics or aspiring clerics, and excess in apparel was not encouraged. As such, in the beginning, it is thought that there was little difference between what the academics were wearing and the laity, except that the academics and clergy tended to wear very plainly coloured garb. This is according to Today I Found Out, a knowledge dissemination platform. 

According to Graduation Source, while medieval universities initially inspired the academic dress, the first recognised schools that officiated graduation attire were Oxford and Cambridge. By 1321, they forbade "excessive apparel” in universities requiring everyone to wear long gowns during ceremonies to create unity.

The graduation hat has changed throughout the centuries and with many variations. The most prevalent style is the mortarboard cap which pairs with standard graduation gowns. These caps are believed to have been developed in the 15th Century evolving from hats known as birettas, used by Catholic clerics, scholars, and professors. The origin of the biretta dates back as far as 1311 in churches.

The mortarboard borrows its name from the flat board used by bricklayers to lay mortar. Therefore, some people believe the reason the cap is square is because it represents the mortar board of a master workman. Despite the uncertainty of origin, the style has remained accepted and popular at most educational institutions.

This original European academic style was pervasive throughout the centuries and even into colonial America. After the Civil War, academic regalia was reserved strictly for graduation. For that reason, the cap and gown symbolise recognition and achievement. While hoods are no longer in use for warmth, they remain in use as a decorative piece representing one’s field of study.

Today, the bar is not set quite as high, and all grads are typically entitled to mortarboards in regions where they are worn.

The tradition of the graduating class throwing their caps in the air at the end of the ceremony has a relatively recent genesis. The first known instance of this was in 1912 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. There are slightly conflicting accounts as to the reason they did this, but the general story is that it is because the academy decided to give them their officers’ hats at the graduation itself.  Thus, the graduates chucked their midshipmen’s caps in the air upon graduation, and ceremoniously placed their officers’ hats on.  Unfortunately, how that ended up catching on with other universities has been lost to history.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com