mortarboard hat
A mortarboard hat is a square, flat academic cap traditionally worn by graduates during commencement ceremonies, often featuring a tassel attached to the top. It is commonly associated with higher education in English-speaking countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, symbolizing academic achievement. The name derives from its resemblance to a builder's mortarboard, a tool for holding mortar. In practice, the tassel is sometimes flipped from one side to the other to signify the completion of a degree.
different graduation caps meaning
Different graduation caps, often mortarboards, can vary in style, color, or adornments, each carrying specific meanings in academic traditions, particularly in English-speaking countries like the US and UK:
- **Tassel colors**: The color of the tassel on a cap typically represents the field of study or degree. For example:
- White: Arts, humanities, or letters
- Gold/yellow: Science or natural sciences
- Drab (light brown): Business or commerce
- Orange: Engineering
- Purple: Law
- Dark blue: Philosophy or education
These vary by institution, so graduates should check their school's guidelines.
- **Cap styles**: While the standard square mortarboard is universal, some use alternative caps for specific degrees:
- Traditional soft caps (like a Tudor bonnet): Often for doctoral degrees in the UK, symbolizing higher academic achievement.
- Custom or regional variations: In some cases, like Harvard's, a distinctive cap might denote historical traditions, though this is less common.
- **Adornments like cords, stoles, or pins**: These are not part of the cap itself but are often attached and indicate honors:
- Honor cords: Colored cords draped over the cap signify academic excellence, such as summa cum laude (often gold) or membership in honor societies.
- Stoles: Worn around the neck with the cap, they can represent cultural heritage, specific programs (e.g., a red stole for theology), or achievements.
- **Tassel movement**: During the ceremony, moving the tassel from right to left symbolizes the transition from student to graduate, a common practice in English-speaking ceremonies.
These meanings are not standardized worldwide and depend on the institution's traditions.
graduation cap tassel
A graduation cap tassel is a decorative cord attached to the top of a mortarboard-style cap worn during graduation ceremonies. It typically consists of a bundle of threads or strands, often in a specific color representing a school, degree, or field of study. During the event, graduates may flip the tassel from one side of the cap to the other as a symbolic gesture of completing their academic journey.
graduation cap tassel left or right
In graduation ceremonies, particularly in the United States and many English-speaking countries, the tassel on a cap is traditionally worn on the right side before the degree is conferred. During the ceremony, graduates move the tassel to the left side after receiving their diploma, symbolizing the transition from student to graduate. This practice can vary by institution or country, so it's best to follow specific guidelines provided by your school.
graduation tassel rules
Graduation tassel rules vary by institution and country, but common practices in English-speaking regions like the United States include:
Tassels are typically worn on the right side of the mortarboard cap at the start of the ceremony to signify student status. After receiving the diploma or during a specific moment designated by the school, such as after the conferral of degrees, participants move the tassel to the left side to symbolize the completion of their studies and official graduation.
The tassel color often corresponds to the field of study, degree level, or honors; for example, gold might represent business, while red could indicate journalism or humanities. Schools may enforce specific guidelines, so students should check with their institution for exact protocols. In some cases, like high school graduations, all tassels might be the same color, while universities often use varied colors for differentiation.
types of graduation caps
The mortarboard is the most common graduation cap, featuring a flat square top with a dangling tassel, typically worn for bachelor's and master's degrees. The tam is a soft, round or pillbox-style cap, often used for doctoral or higher academic ceremonies and sometimes adorned with a tassel or cord. The bonnet is a soft cap with a stiff brim, commonly seen in British or European traditions for various degree levels. Other variations include the John Knox cap, a soft, flat style similar to the tam, and custom institutional caps that may incorporate unique designs based on university or cultural practices.
graduation cap meaning tassel
The tassel on a graduation cap, often called a mortarboard, is a symbolic element in academic ceremonies. It represents achievement and is traditionally worn on the right side before the ceremony. During or after graduation, the tassel is flipped to the left side to signify the completion of a degree or academic milestone. Colors of tassels can also denote specific fields of study or institutions.
graduation cap origin islam
The graduation cap, also known as a mortarboard, originated in medieval Europe, particularly from academic traditions in universities like Oxford and Cambridge in England. It evolved from earlier forms of headwear, such as the biretta worn by clergy and scholars in the Catholic Church, and is linked to ancient Roman and European influences. There is no historical evidence connecting the graduation cap's origin to Islam; Islamic scholarly traditions had their own distinct attire, like turbans, but these did not influence the development of the Western academic cap. Any claims of an Islamic origin are likely based on misconceptions or unrelated cultural exchanges.