A graduation cap is not just the cherry on top of your academic regalia; it can also make you stand out from your fellow graduates. Get some decoration ideas for your graduation cap and some interesting facts about that good old mortarboard.
Before you toss that graduation cap, it might be a great idea to learn more about its history. Knowing trivial facts may not get you a college pass, much less a master’s degree, but it is always good to know.
Graduation caps were patterned after a similar-looking headdress worn by Roman Catholic priests. They were first worn by master’s and doctorate students. It was not until 400 years ago that they were incorporated into the commencement exercises of bachelor’s degree holders. Because of its similarity to a bricklaying tool that holds mortar, graduation caps are also referred to as mortarboards. Other less popular terms for it are “Oxford cap” and “academic cap.”
During the graduation exercise, men are typically requested to take their caps off when the school song and national anthem are sung. Women may be allowed to keep their mortarboards on during the singing of the anthems. Nowadays, this totally depends on your school practice or tradition.
How to wear a graduation cap properly:
- Front end to the front: You can find the front of your grad cap on the inside of its crown.
- Wear it flat: Your cap should be worn flat — it should not tilt forward, backward, or sideways. The cap should be worn approximately an inch above the eyebrow.
- Know where to place your tassel. Traditionally, tassels are placed on the right side before the “conferment.” Once you are conferred as graduates, then that is the time that you can switch the tassel onto the left side during your graduation ceremony. The color of the tassel represents your school and study. If you are not sure which tassels to choose, you may refer to the color list that will be provided by your school.
It is a common practice of graduating students to move the tassel from one side to the other. This is done after all the diplomas are handed out to graduating students. The practice represents the start of a new phase, the turning of an old page to a new one.
Decorating your graduation cap
Decorating the mortarboard used to be frowned upon by conservative academes. But over the years, more and more students have adopted this colorful practice. There are different reasons why students decorate their caps:
Not just another cap in the crowd. Some simply want to stand out in the crowd and be noticed. Indulge if you want to. Years of being in school gives you the right to be noticed.
This mortarboard says “thank you.” A lot of graduates want to show gratitude to their parents and friends who helped them made it.
Inspire with words. Graduation is an event full of inspiration and dreams, thus it is right to celebrate it with the right quotes.
Football for life. You can show that you are your varsity team’s biggest supporter by placing their team logo on your mortarboard.
This is what I got. You can also show pride in your achievement by placing the degree you have attained.
Be sure to be creative in your design. If you are up for it, you can even have your favorite cartoon character. Several schools organize cap decorating contests. If your school does not have one, you can create your own cap decorating event. You do not need the entire school to be there. A small, memorable event among your friends is more than enough to create happy, lifelong memories.
At the end of each graduation ceremony is its visual highlight: mortarboards fly high up in the air as hopes and dreams soar for graduates. Just remember, some schools may not allow the throwing of graduation caps, especially for middle and high schools. Nevertheless, just make sure you enjoy your graduation and savor every last moment of it!