Origins of the Graduation Cap
Where Did the Traditional Square Graduation Cap Come From?
Graduation season is upon us and with it the ubiquitous sea of academic garb consisting of robes and tasseled mortarboard caps. But where did this unique hat style originate?
Starting in 1088 with the University of Bologna (Italy) and followed by the University of Paris (France) and Oxford University (England) in early to mid 12th century, higher education was spreading across Europe and with it, the birth of (Western) academic regalia. Focused largely on canon (i.e. Catholic church) law as well as a few other subjects, medieval students at these universities took ecclesiastical vows and were tonsured (i.e., had the center of their heads shaved as famously worn by monks). Clerical attire consisting of long robes, hoods, and/or caps were thus similarly adopted (and used for warmth in the largely unheated buildings).
Early scholar cap styles consisted of calottes (i.e. skullcaps) and later, the pileus (named after a similar ancient Roman cap). By the 16th century, the university pileus had two popular iterations – the square pileus quadratus and the round pileus rotundus – their use determined by one's subject of study. This burgeoning tradition was exported to American colonies in the 17th century, giving rise to modern day graduation caps. In 1895 the (American) Intercollegiate Code of Academic Costume prescribed “mortar-board” style graduation caps, indicating (and cementing) the square pileus quadratus-inspired design’s prevalence. The term “mortar-board” was, of course, an American colloquialism stemming from the cap’s resemblance to actual square boards used by masons to hold mortar.
Originally, graduation caps did not feature tassels. Exactly when or where the addition of tassels began is unknown, though they, too, were so commonplace by 1895 that their use was likewise stipulated in the same Intercollegiate Code of Academic Costume statute. Today, the tassel plays a significant symbolic role in U.S. graduation ceremonies when students move the tassel from right to left to symbolize their new status as graduates.
Today, many graduates look to express and differentiate themselves by personalizing their graduation caps with art and messages. This new trend is very much in line with the age-old practice of personalizing one’s hat and we at the Village Hat Shop are all for it. Personalized or not, graduation caps connect us all to a proud hat tradition spanning centuries, continents, and culture – CONGRATULATIONS to all graduates out there and best of luck!