mortarboard hat
A mortarboard hat is a traditional academic cap with a flat, square top and a dangling tassel, commonly worn by graduates during university and school ceremonies in English-speaking countries. It originated from the resemblance to a builder's mortarboard, a tool for holding plaster, and symbolizes academic achievement. The hat is typically black or matches the gown, with the tassel often shifted from one side to the other to signify the completion of studies.
different graduation caps meaning
Different graduation caps, often mortarboards, can vary in design, color, and accessories to symbolize academic achievements, fields of study, or personal significance. For example, the tassel color typically represents the graduate's degree or major—such as gold for science, white for arts and letters, or blue for philosophy—though these colors vary by institution. Some caps include cords or stoles in specific hues to denote honors, like red for cum laude, or membership in academic societies. In certain cultures or events, caps might be customized with decorations to reflect personal stories, heritage, or causes, adding individual meaning to the traditional symbol of completion.
graduation tassel rules
Graduation tassel rules typically involve wearing the tassel on the right side of the mortarboard cap at the beginning of the ceremony. After receiving the diploma, graduates move it to the left side to symbolize the completion of their degree. Tassel colors often represent specific fields of study, honors, or institutions—for example, gold for high honors or colors like blue for education or green for medicine. These rules can vary by school, country, or event, so it's best to check with the specific institution for exact guidelines.
graduation cap tassel
A graduation cap tassel is a decorative cord or bunch of threads attached to the top of a mortarboard cap, worn during academic ceremonies like graduations. It symbolizes the completion of a degree and is often color-coded to represent a specific field of study, school, or honor. During the ceremony, the tassel is typically worn on the right side initially and moved to the left after receiving the diploma, signifying the transition from student to graduate. Tassels are commonly made from silk, nylon, or other materials and can vary in length and style based on tradition or institution.
graduation cap tassel left or right
In most Western graduation traditions, particularly in the United States, the tassel on a graduation cap is worn on the right side at the start of the ceremony. It is then moved to the left side after the graduate receives their diploma, symbolizing the completion of their studies. Always check with your specific institution for any variations.
graduation cap origin islam
The graduation cap, also known as a mortarboard, originated in medieval Europe during the 14th and 15th centuries as part of academic regalia in universities like Oxford and Cambridge. Its design likely evolved from earlier European headwear, such as the biretta worn by clergy and scholars, and the square shape may have been influenced by practical or symbolic elements in European traditions, like the builder's mortarboard or academic symbolism.
While some theories suggest indirect influences from Islamic scholarship—due to the transmission of knowledge from Islamic centers like Al-Andalus (medieval Spain) to Europe during the Middle Ages—there is no direct historical evidence linking the graduation cap's design to Islamic origins. Islamic scholars typically wore turbans or other head coverings, but these did not directly inspire the mortarboard. The idea of a connection, such as the cap's shape resembling the Kaaba, is largely a modern myth without scholarly support.
types of graduation caps
The mortarboard is the most common type of graduation cap, characterized by its square, flat top and a dangling tassel, typically worn for bachelor's and master's degrees.
The Oxford cap, also known as the scholar's cap, features a soft, fabric crown with a flat or slightly pointed top, often used in British and some European traditions.
The doctoral tam is a soft, pillbox-style cap with a tuft instead of a tassel, reserved for those earning doctoral degrees and common in academic ceremonies.
The bonnet is a soft, brimless cap with a cord or tassel, sometimes worn in Scottish or other European university graduations.
The biretta is a square cap with three or four ridges, traditionally used in some religious or ecclesiastical graduations, such as for theology degrees.
graduation hat color meaning
Graduation hat tassel colors often represent the field of study in academic traditions, particularly in the United States. Here are common meanings:
- White: Arts, Letters, Humanities
- Maize: Agriculture
- Blue-Violet: Architecture
- Drab (light brown): Business, Commerce, Accountancy
- Light Blue: Education
- Orange: Engineering
- Purple: Law
- Green: Medicine, Medical fields
- Pink: Music
- Dark Blue: Philosophy
- Golden Yellow: Science
Note that meanings can vary by institution, country, or specific degree program.