Graduation Ceremonies Around the World

“In South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand, commencement celebrations are very formal – the procession is made up of the entire faculty.  The choir is usually present for a song or two and once the ceremony is complete, James Brown’s recording of I Feel Good is played.”

“In Sweden, high school graduations are celebrated as well as university graduations. When the students leave the building after the ceremony, families wait for them with large homemade signs; usually, to embarrass the graduate, the signs include pictures of the student as a child.  Once the ceremony is complete, students and their families gather together for a song and to join in a parade, complete with floats, around the town.”

“In the Philippines, students have graduation ceremonies for each level of education completed.  The processional includes the parents, who walk alongside the student.  When each student approaches the stage, he is required to turn and bow to the audience.  Having received their diploma, they are honored with a garland placed around their necks. The garland is made from ribbons decorated with flowers that have been made from ribbon or silk.  Once the ceremony is complete, students receive additional garlands from their families.  It is customary for the graduate to wear white with a purple sash that indicates what honors he has received.  Hats are generally not worn, except by faculty.  More recently, students have started wearing mortar boards and gowns with their school uniforms underneath.”

“In Spain, graduation attire is very traditional. The robes have a built-in cape similar to those worn by the Pope. They have lace cuffs and a round hat with a very large cuff – usually in blue.”

“At Japan’s Kanazawa College of Art, ceremonies look more like Halloween than a graduation.  Students wear whatever they want, and their attire has become so outrageous that TV crews come in to film the ceremonies.  Students wear everything from traditional Kimonos to cardboard boxes.”

“In Argentina, after the ceremony is complete students have food, especially sticky things like ketchup and syrup, thrown at them.  Italian graduates are also subject to food being thrown at them by friends and family, and they often wear costumes.”

“In Thailand, diplomas are given out to students by members of the Royal family.  No one is permitted entrance to the hall except the graduates, and they must be dressed in traditional gowns over their student uniforms. ”

“Norwegian graduates spend the last month of school at parties.  They sometimes wear matching overalls and ride around in buses or vans decorated for contests such as “the best bus of the year” and “the best music setup” of the year.”

“Female Chinese graduates have started a new trend of renting wedding gowns to wear to graduation.  Traditional ceremonies usually don’t take place, and the students may set their own style of celebration without parents and relatives attending.”

Fascinating & unique graduation traditions around the world (thevintagenews.com)

As you can see, where ever you are in the world graduation is an important passage or ceremony students completing their education careers experience. It is a celebration and recognition of the handwork and sacrifice over many years of grueling work, of dedication, of commitment. 

To some, the diploma or degree are enough. They don't need the gown, or the speeches, or the hot and stuffy auditoriums full of other students they may not get along with smiling in their face and saying a shallow congratulations.

Not me. I want it all. I want the boring 3 hour speech by a man I've never seen before in my life talking about how proud he is of us. I want my mom crying in the audience because I did what no one else in our family has done before. 

Below are the pictures of my past graduation ceremonies. Elementary, middle school, and high school. 

Because of Covid I won't be getting a commencement ceremony for college. 
And I understand why. I do. 

There are worse things happening during this pandemic, worse than a missed ceremony. 

But that doesn't mean I can't be sad about it.  

I am the youngest of four, a first generation child in my family. My mother barely gradated high school from a pregnancy school when she was pregnant with my eldest sister. My father dropped out in 6th grade to help take care of his family back when he was living on the island. 

With 3 girls and 1 boy, I am the first daughter in my family to graduate from high school. With both honors and without a teenage pregnancy. 

I am the first in my entire family to go to college. 

I am the first child to go to college and see it through. 

I'm graduating. I'm almost there. 

But I won't get that ceremony, or that recognition. 

And I'm really sad about it.