14K Yellow Gold Class of 2020 Graduation Necklace Charm

Traditional garments. Graduates dress in long gowns, known as a full academic regalia, or dress. The longstanding tradition formed nearly 700 years ago. When the early universities were still beginning to be formed in Europe. Buildings were not heated, so the long hooded gowns were worn by scholars to keep warm. Later on, gowns were made the official dress of academics to prevent excessive apparel. Though buildings are now plenty warm year round, the tradition lives on through the commencement ceremony. The color of the gown varies by institution. Degrees however, are assigned specific standardized tassel colors.


Tossing of the cap. Graduates tossing their caps in the air, actually originated during a Naval Academy ceremony in 1912. When students of the academy graduated, they were no longer commissioned to wear their caps. Hence, throwing them in the air, symbolized completion. Other institutions later adopted this as a celebratory expression for graduates. This has continued to be tradition for both High School and College ceremonies.

Graduation Songs. As graduates walk across the stage to receive a congratulatory letter from their respective college, “Pomp and Circumstance” often plays in the background. However, the well-known graduation theme song was not created for this occasion.  Instead, twentieth-century composer Edward Elgar wrote it for King Edward VII. When Elgar received an honorary doctorate from Yale in 1905, the song played in the background and made a major impression on other institutions thereafter. (Let's not forget about the 2000 favourite Vitamin C graduation song!)


Guest Speakers. What better way to top off an academic career than by having Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler Steven Spielberg, Steve Carell or John Krasinski address your graduating class? Each year comedians, politicians and other public figures give speeches during commencement. Just for fun, here is a collection of some very inspiring celebrity commencement speeches. Watch John Krasinski's Commencement Speech at Brown University here:

Weight: 1.55 G
Metal: 14K Yellow Gold
Length: 16.5 mm (0.64 inches)
Width: 18 mm (0.7 inches)