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Baccalaureate Notes
The Baccalaureate Ceremony often takes place the
afternoon or evening before Commencement. The origin of this ceremony
dates back to the Middle Ages when meaningful
symbols were associated with the conferring of a degree. One of these
symbols is the academic hood. The hood is presented during the
baccalaureate ceremony. Originally worn as a head covering in the cold
schools of the middle ages, the hood is now used to identify a graduate's
academic institution and degree. The velvet color on the outer edge of the
hood denotes the graduate's degree - -white for arts and letters, gold for
science, and brown for fine arts. The combination of the institutional and
departmental colors represents a scholar's academic achievement.
The baccalaureate ceremony is a highlight of the
academic year. It is a joyous occasion for the entire college community: a
time to rejoice, to praise, to honor and to celebrate with each other the
life of learning, so richly shared by members of this community. It is
especially a time to recognize - in a formal manner -- the achievements of
our friends and colleagues. During the Baccalaureate Ceremony, students
who are in honor societies and who have earned academic excellence are
often recognized.
Legend has it that the Baccalaureate
ceremony originated in a statute of 1432 at Oxford University, which
required each bachelor to deliver a sermon in Latin as part of his
academic exercise. Because the earliest universities in this country were
founded primarily to educated ministers, the British practice of a
Baccalaureate service continued. Today, the service is
ususally an interfaith one that celebrates the completion of an
undergraduate academic career.
Graduation ceremonies can be
a solemn occasion or time for celebration.
Some students really care about their graduation night and it's memories.
Others could care less and can't wait to exit school and go on.
Some return regularly to class reunions. Others never attend.
Many successful people
today say they had a hard time in school.
Others say they were class presidents and cheerleaders and thus popular
.
School memories are cherished by some and forgotten by others.
It's the best of times or the worst of times.
Just don't quit.
sources
include:
brownielocks.com
Information
Sources =
Encyclopedia Britannica (on CD
Rom)
Copyright 1992 Grolier Electronic Publishing
Jostens, Inc.
American Council on Education
Academic Regalia (Caps
and Gowns and more)
For over 40 yrs. the
graduation gown color was gray. But in the 1950's, students began to wear
gowns that were their school's colors. According to Jostens
survey...approximately 1 out of 10 students will graduate in a unique
color.
More on Academic Regalia
Also, visit
E. R. Moore Company,
makers of cap and gowns.
"Pomp and
Circumstance"
So who put that tune in our
heads? "Pomp and Circumstance"
was composed by Sir Edward Elgar (June 2, 1857 - February 23, 1934) and
first performed on October 19, 1901 in Liverpool, England. Native-born in
England, he got his musical education from his father (a music seller,
violinist and organist for St. George's Roman Catholic Church), but for
the most part is considered a self-taught composer. Elgar composed
concertos for the violin and cello, but is most famous for his 5
Pomp and Circumstance
Marches. He became "Sir" (knighted) in 1904 and appointed master of the
king's music in 1924. Elgar is the first major composer to record his
works systematically for the phonograph.
Because so much American
culture stems from our British roots, it is assumed that this is the
reason the song "Pomp & Circumstance"
became the standard march for graduation ceremonies. It was
passed down to us from English schools and universities. However, music
does change with the times - not every commencement exercise today uses
Elgar's Pomp & Circumstance.
Diplomas
Original diplomas were made
of sheepskin. This is where the slang " hang your sheepskin on the wall"
came from. It was a phrase to represent the showing off of your
education. Diplomas were made from paper-thin sheepskin, hand-written,
rolled and
tied with
a ribbon until 100 years ago. A lot of documents were done on animal skins
because paper-making was difficult. They changed to parchment, which was
more practical, when the paper making techniques improved. It wasn't until
the turn of this century that diplomas stopped being rolled-up, but given
out in leather binders. Rumor is they stopped because rolled-up
diplomas were hard to frame.
Class/School Rings
The first class ring was
developed in 1835 for West Point U.S. Academy.
In the early 1900's class rings came into fashion. The early class rings
were crude and were only a shank with a symbol (usually of the class pin
which preceded the class ring by a few years) attached to the bezel of the
ring. They quickly became popular and soon stones were added and more
intricate dies allowing for greater details were developed.
The basis of the class
ring (and pin) goes back to the Egyptians, who felt their scarab rings
promised them eternal life, they wore their seal & signet rings till
death, and were buried with them (placed over their hearts). Roman
soldiers felt their rings would bring them victory. (In fact, some images
on cameos were considered good luck amulets). A gold ring represented
nobility only. So the commoner couldn't wear a gold ring until 500 BC when
a law said that all Romans could wear gold if they wanted. Wealthy
Europeans would hire jewelers to design their own special ring. Queen
Victoria had a serpent of emeralds on her wedding ring (and 6 doz. were
duplicated and given to each of the ladies of the court.) So a class ring
(in gold) represented wealth, success, and belonging to a special group.
Today, class rings remain a
popular tradition for high school and colleges. Class rings are seen as
a combination of showing school pride while being an outward symbol of
the diploma (but much easier to display). With many people, they feel
their class ring is a symbol of their entrance into the world of
adulthood, a good luck charm or a show of worthiness of belonging to some
group. Although tradition holds that a class ring is worn on the right
hand on the third finger (because the Knights felt it gave them double
strength there and good luck), a class ring can be worn on any finger and
sometimes on a chain around a neck.
Graduation Ceremonies
A graduation ceremony is a
cultural tradition termed as a rite of passage. It is a ritual or
ceremony that marks one stage of a person's life to another. Marriage is
the most commonly known and observed today. "Rite of passage" was
termed by anthropologist Arnold van Gennep in 1909 who believed that
passage rituals had 3 steps:
(1) Separation from Society
(2)
Inculcation-transformation
(3) Return to Society in the
new status
All passage rituals fulfill certain universal functions:
(1) Dramatize facing new
responsibilities, opportunities and dangers
(2) Readjust the participant
(and all in their social circle) to these changes
(3) They establish
solidarity and sacredness of common values
The graduation
ceremony dates back to the 12th century. Some feel it began with
scholastic monks with their ceremonies in robes and has evolved to fit the
society in which it is celebrated ever since.
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