Every graduation ceremony features a familiar sight: graduates dressed in black gowns and square black hats, proudly known as mortarboards. But where did this tradition come from?
The origins of academic dress date back to Europe’s medieval universities in the 12th and 13th centuries. Institutions such as the University of Bologna, Oxford, and Paris required scholars and clergy to wear long robes and head coverings. At the time, universities were closely connected to the Church, and the clothing reflected the status of educated individuals while also providing warmth in unheated buildings.
The distinctive square graduation cap, known as the mortarboard, is believed to have evolved from the biretta, a four-cornered cap worn by Catholic clergy and university scholars during the Renaissance. Its flat, square shape resembles the board used by stonemasons to hold mortar, giving the cap its modern name.
Black became the traditional color because it symbolized dignity, authority, and scholarship. It was also a practical choice, as black dyes were widely available and academic dress emphasized uniformity rather than personal fashion. Today, many universities retain black gowns and caps while using colorful tassels, hoods, or stoles to represent academic disciplines and achievements.
The practice spread from Europe to universities across the United States, the Commonwealth, and many other parts of the world. Although styles now vary, the mortarboard remains one of the most recognizable symbols of education and academic accomplishment.
One of the ceremony’s most popular traditions, tossing the cap into the air, is much more recent. It gained popularity in the early 20th century, after graduating U.S. Naval Academy cadets celebrated the end of their military-issued hats by throwing them skyward.
