Graduation Day Around the World

Graduation day is an important day for everyone. Anyone who completes their post schooling education faces this day no matter where they live in the world. And like every important day, graduation day comes with its own set of traditions. Some are common, like throwing your cap in the air. It is said that this example was set in 1912 during the U.S. Naval Academy’s graduation ceremony. The students were given officer’s caps so that they no longer required their midshipman’s caps that they’d been using for the past four years. In a show of happiness they threw their old caps in the air and other students followed suit as the word spread.

Every university has its own ways of celebrating the end of college. Here are a few of the most remarkable ones.

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME, INDIANA, USA

9th-century ‘porch etiquette’ and smoking rituals dictated that a student was only eligible to have a smoke on the porch with his professors after the successful completion of his graduate degree. Although this custom may seem a bit archaic, it still perseveres.

The Main Building has a grand entrance that is abuzz with various faculty, visitors and administrators. However, you’ll never see an undergrad on those steps. So it only seems likely that once they graduate, the students celebrate by taking their first steps on those stairs. They have now become a popular place to get photographed on graduation day. Graduating in America also involves an unholy amount of booze. In many states friends, family and the graduates themselves participate in pub crawling that begins as early as 6:00 AM!

UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS, FIFE, SCOTLAND

This university is well known for it’s notable alumni, Prince William and Katherine née Middleton. At first you won’t find any difference in the line of new graduates waiting to get their certificate. But then before handing over the paper, you’ll see the principal doffing the students head with a cloth.

This cloth, is believed to be made from the seat of John Knox’s breeches. John Knox was a Scottish clergyman, writer and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who is considered the founder of the Presbyterian denomination in Scotland.

The University of Edinburgh also claims to have a cap, or ‘bonnet’ of the same material. A few years ago however, the bonnet required restoring during which a label dating to 1849 was discovered. John Knox died in 1572, but the tradition continues nonetheless in both universities.

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND

Founded in 1209, Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the, English-speaking world, and the world’s, third-oldest surviving university. It is extremely prestigious and is closely linked with Oxford, the university from which its founding scholars originated. It is firmly rooted in tradition.

During the graduation ceremony, each student must be ‘introduced’ to the Vice-chancellor by their praelector. This is done four students at a time, by each student holding a finger and being ‘towed’ to the Vice-chancellor’s throne in the Senate House. 

The graduands receive their certificate from him as he says : “Auctoritate mihi commissa admitto te ad gradum Baccalaurei in Artibus, in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti” (by the authority committed to me I admit you to the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit). The entire ceremony is conducted in Latin, but students have been given the choice to have the Trinitarian words omitted, for religious reasons.

KYOTO UNIVERSITY, KYOTO, JAPAN

Kyoto University is the second oldest Japanese university, one of the highest ranked universities in Asia and one of Japan’s, National Seven Universities. But the Art’s faculty doesn’t let that bog them down in formalities. Their graduation day looks like a cosplay fest. You can witness the weirdest, wackiest and most unexplainable costumes. Its like watching anime on acid. The pictures speak for themselves.

UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND, KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA

Not all places believe in such wild celebrations. Although the University of Zululand in South Africa does have a formal graduation ceremony they have graduation parties too.

They celebrate success in their homes in the townships (ekasi, ekhaya elikhulu, at Church). These Graduation Parties are a form of thanksgiving for a beginning of a better life and communal optimism. Family and community claiming and celebrating success, reinforcing the culture of hope and success are what make these mini celebrations special and personal.

UNIVERSITY OF BUENOS AIRES, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Woe betide those who graduate in Argentina. To give you an idea of how the last day of college is generally celebrated, imagine an enormous Holi celebration. Now imagine that everyone is throwing colours on only one person. Now imagine that the colours are actually rotten food. Ketchup, syrup, pepper, yogurt, eggs, you name it, they've got everything. They even bring scissors to cut up clothes and (yikes) hair!

UNIVERSITY OF PADUA, PADOVA, ITALY

This is a ridiculously impressive university. Its alumni include Nicolaus Copernicus, Torquato Tasso, St. Francis de Sales, Galileo Galilei, Elena Lucrezia Piscopia Corner (the first woman in the world to be awarded a university diploma, 1678) and Federico Faggin, designer of the first commercial microprocessor. It’s traditions however, are less impressive.

After a grueling presentation, the jury hands over the certificate and a laurel wreath if the candidate is successful. The wreath is of such importance that in Italy any graduated student is referred to as Laureato. After that it becomes the family’s sole duty to shame the graduate by hanging pictures and posters of their entire life in embarrassing detail in a specifically designated public hazing area. And they also do what Argentina does.

MONASH UNIVERSITY, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

The Monash University has a special graduation procession. It is an important part of the ceremony and is carried out in a very specific manner. The order of the procession is - faculty managers, PhD and doctorate graduands, members of staff, members of council, course directors/Head of school/Deans, honored guests, Vice-Chancellor and President, Chancellor and at the very end, the new graduates.

Another important part is the ceremonial mace. For many years the mace has been a symbol of the government. It represents the authority of the University and Council and was commissioned in 1965. It has a shaft of polished Australian black bean, and a head and foot of cast and beaten silver. The orb at the head carries the University coat of arms, supported by flames. symbolizing the light given to the world by increasing knowledge. At the foot are four engraved oval panels. It is carried by the Esquire Bedell.

Closer to home, we all celebrate with family and friends. And isn't that what matters the most? People who we can count on now that we have to step into the big adult world of responsibilities? Graduating isn't our achievement alone. After all, who did we copy all our assignments from in the first place?