Graduation Caps and Gowns – Traditions from the Around the World

Graduation caps and gowns are traditional clothing worn in commencement exercises. Most schools won’t allow students to attend the ceremony if they are not wearing the right graduation attire. In kindergarten, students are also required to wear preschool graduation gowns for the graduation ceremony. Usually there are no restrictions with the type or color of gown and cap that should be worn in graduation ceremonies. But if you are graduating from college, strict standards must be followed. Standards in cap and gown design and color vary from one country to another. Be sure to inquire about thesecap and gown policies to avoid embarrassment on graduation day. To give you an idea, let us see what sorts of polices are being followed different countries starting with:

Spain

1.      The graduation gown is known as ‘toga’ and it is part of a set of clothing. The toga is usually made of woolen or satin fabric. You can close it using the buttons on its front.

2.      Punetas refer to the embroidery found at the cuffs of the gown. The cuffs should be long and made of white cotton.

3.      To identify academic level or degree, a color mozetta is used

4.      Students should wear a birette to show their main academic degree and standards. The color should go with the school’s official color.

5.      Medals and medallions should be worn by doctors and PhD levels.

New Zealand

1.      Basic design of academic regalia is similar to those worn in the University of Cambridge

2.      Only degree holders get to wear graduation cap and they must wear it throughout the ceremony.

3.      Students getting associate degree should wear a hood, not a cap

4.      The gown of bachelor degree holders features a lining and fur. For Masters and Doctorate degree holders, wear simple graduation gowns – no lining and fur

5.      Doctoral graduations must wear a black or scarlet gown made of silk.

Portugal

1.      The graduation gown in Portugal is called traje

2.      Underneath the gown, students are required wear black bottoms (pants or skits). Students should wear white top and males should accompany it with a black tie.

3.      A long, black overcoat should be worn over the academic regalia

Finland and Sweden

1.      Instead of the traditional mortarboard, students in these countries wear a specific kind of cap called teekkarilakki (Finland) or teknologmossa (Sweden)

2.      The cap should bear monogram logo of the school or university. Same thing is applied for graduating high school students.

3.      If student is graduating with Doctoral degree, he or she must wear a top hat as a graduation cap.

Philippines

1.      Students should wear a ‘sablay’ or sash on their right hand side and should be shifted to the other side after they receive the diploma

2.      The gowns differ in colors, depending on the university’s color

While traditions in wearing graduation cap and gown may differ from one country to another, the symbolism of cap and gown remains the same. It means transition to a higher phase. The graduation gown and cap is just as important as the ceremony. So when you walk up the stage to receive your diploma in custom diploma covers, march with pride and confidence.