Your graduation is the most treasured and significant event that happens throughout your university career, with traditions and formalities taken very seriously depending on the country you live in. Every country has their own approach to graduation ceremony rituals, including cultural traditions and plans. We’ve rounded up the most exciting and interesting graduation traditions from around the globe for you to read.

 

6 Graduation Rituals from Different Countries

1. British Caps and Gowns

The history behind why the British wear caps and gowns is extensive and has roots in the 12^th century. Historically worn by the Roman Catholic clergy, graduation caps sit upon graduates head to symbolise superiority and intelligence. Similarly, the graduation tradition of wearing a long gown is steeped in history. The gown was made popular in the Middle Ages due to the cold temperatures of classrooms. Scholars would wear long gowns with hoods to keep themselves warm. Nowadays, a fun graduation ritual for students is to toss their graduation caps into the air whilst posing for a picture. British graduation ceremonies remain relatively formal, with friends gathering before the ceremony to drink champagne and celebrate. The day ends with family gathering for a meal out afterwards to toast the graduate. Most recently, at home graduation ceremonies have become popular due to the pandemic. As in-person presentations haven’t been possible, students and professors have taken to Zoom to carry out the event. However, graduation traditions are still very much alive, with students still throwing their graduation caps into the air, albeit in their living room!

2. Swedish Partying

You may imagine Swedish graduation to be akin to Midsommer: beautiful food, gracious gift-giving and extensive grazing platters; however, the actualities of the day are far from it. After washing down breakfast with a glass of champagne, students put on their name-embroidered studentmossa (a sailor hat) and leave for graduation. After the ceremony, students are greeted by large banners held by parents and friends outside the venue, adorned with baby pictures and embarrassing images. One of the most sentimental graduation rituals now takes place, with family members gifting the graduate a memorable item, which they will keep for the rest of their life; a trinket, trophy or teddy bear. Thanks to the sunny Swedish summer weather, their final graduation tradition involves a lot of partying outside. All piled onto the back of a flatbed truck; the graduates are paraded around town blaring loud music, drinking and dancing.

3. Italian 'Trashing'

Italian graduations are very different to most other country's ceremonies; whilst the ceremony is formal, the tone changes afterwards and that's when the fun begins. Food fights and chanting end the day, but let’s start at the beginning. Graduates adorn themselves with ‘laurel’, which are flower wreath crowns sold by florists all across town. Once in the ceremony, graduates must answer a question in detail before the academic board in front of gathered guests. The graduates will have received a list of potential questions in advance that refer to their area of expertise; however, they do not know which of these questions they will be asked. After the graduation ceremony, things start to become slightly more informal. In the name of Italian graduation ceremony rituals, graduates are lovingly hazed by their friends and family with the hopes of embarrassing them. ‘Trashing’, as it’s called, involves throwing substances including eggs, glitter, flour or even ketchup over the students. Italian universities have now stated that anything thrown (including confetti, glitter, etc.) must be biodegradable!

 4. Hawaiian Lei

Hawaii’s graduation rituals pay homage to the countries history and Hawaiian culture. The main graduation tradition includes gifting lei to the students. Lei are flower garlands that students wear around their necks, featuring native flowers from the island. Attendants and friends gift students lei to represent how much they support and respect the graduate. Often, graduates are gifted so much lei that you can barely see their face for the numerous lei they are wearing! In addition, Hawaiians celebrate their day with a traditional graduation ritual of dancing, singing and celebrating.

5. Chinese Dress Up

As opposed to many countries, China has very few graduation traditions. However, in the spirit of it being a traditionally formal day, the Chinese counteract that by making it as fun as possible. Graduation ceremony rituals in China are traditionally not fun. Parents don’t typically attend, and the relationships between students and professors are strictly professional, meaning no celebrating or hugging. Instead of traditional graduation uniforms, graduates dress up in fancy dress for their ceremony to lighten the mood. Many dress up as pirates, cartoon characters, or even come in wedding dresses! This is their way of celebrating whimsically before entering the world of work.

  6. Finnish Swords

Most commonly, at PhD ceremonies, the Finnish have been known to bring swords to their ceremony as a graduation tradition. Graduates are gifted traditional swords and a PhD Hat during their Conferment ceremony to symbolise the ‘freedom of research’ and ‘the fight for what is good, right and true’. According to rules, the sword must be 87 cm long, weigh 1.6lb, and be carried on the left side of the body. For women, this graduation ritual requires a matching belt to be worn to carry their sword in. The graduation rules in Finland are strict, with graduation tradition forbidding PhD graduates to wear their Doctoral Hat until they have completed their Conferment ceremony.

 

As you have learnt, the formalities and graduation ceremony rituals vary from country to country, from fancy dress to sword presenting. To learn more about graduation ceremonies, check out our blog for more articles. If you require information surrounding hiring or purchasing your own graduation package, or any graduation memorabilia, please contact our team.