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What is in a graduation gown?

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 The hood of the gown had no academic significance, but rather, was used to cover the head during cold weather Photo: The Standard

Last week saw students graduate from Kenyatta and Mt Kenya universities. More Kenyans will be given “the power to read and do all that appertains to this degree” by December, when the mother of all graduations takes place at the Graduation Square, University of Nairobi.

But have you ever wondered why graduations are marked with gowns and mortarboards on the head? And just why do these gowns (mostly pitch-black in colour) sport back hoods?

Well, the gowns and mortarboards render some uniformity to the graduation ceremony, besides making one look ‘learned’ from that studio picture that later stares down at visitors from that vantage point on the wall at home.

The gowns also represent a ‘rite of passage’ separating those who sat through such courses as ‘transport geography’ and ‘mortuary science,’ from the rest of the world.

WM Webb informs us in The Heritage of Dress that, while today gowns of those with bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees are slightly different in design, colour and quality of material, they were originally the choice dressing for clerics (a name derived from clerks which was what most were).

These clerics, many of them monks, wore wool and fur robes due to that not so small matter of medieval churches and buildings not having air-conditioning!

Again, the most learned in the 12th century - when universities were sprouting up and gowns became in vogue - were the clergy who held the earliest lectures inside churches. That was before Oxford and Cambridge universities made gowns official graduation gear in 1222, according.

Today, students sport gowns during the graduation ceremony before returning them to the university. But in the 12th century, scholars were distinguished by wearing them daily!

Did you also know that the hood of the gown (whose length depends on the degree being conferred) had no academic significance, but rather, was used to cover the head during cold weather, besides its gunia-like hollowness being ideal for keeping alms? At the time, scholars were paid by a charitable public after conducting open-air classes! The hoods were also for keeping food as they trekked from place to place. But today, the colour of the hood is indicative of the type of degree earned.

The graduation cap or mortarboard (so called as it resembles a mason’s board where mortar is held), is a square, flat board fastened to a mango head with a jaunty tassel to its centre.

This cap was a variation of the brimless biretta worn by Roman Catholic Priests.But why do students throw caps in the air after graduation? Discuss (30 marks)!

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