The Cap and Gown Tradition: Explained

Those traditional garments are present during some of our most important celebrations, the end of our formative stages, which means academic achievement, growth, and pride. But the origin of these items comes from a very distant era. 

The gown hails from ancient Rome to be precise, back then it represented citizenship and status and was worn by senators and emperors on distinctive colors to indicate power. 

As time went by it turned into solemnity and sobriety and it was related to the justice system. Even in Spain, during the reign of King Phillip II was mandatory for government officials during events. 

The cap on the other hand was considered a peculiar hat worn by humanists, erudites and artists during the Renaissance using them to be different by social class, red was the preferred color given the difficulty of getting the pigment. 

Traditionally (and not a rule) the tassel switches to the left side at the end of the ceremony, meaning the achievement and the change in status.

One of the most expected moments during a graduation ceremony is the throwing of the cap, this tradition has a peculiar background, in 1912 a Marines graduation. Right after the president's speech (William Howard Taft) one of the graduates took off his hat and threw it as an act of relief and before anyone could react the rest of the young marines followed his lead. This simple act is very representative of the feeling of being a graduate.