Sunday, July 10, 2011

Question 699: Hair today Gown Tomorrow

Possible reasons for __X__ being part of the attire for the ceremony __Y__ are as follows:

** 1). The shape was derived from the master workman's mortar board.
** 2). The cap was meant to resemble the quadrangular shape of the English university campus.
** 3). The shape symbolized the "squareness" of both the ____ and his articles. In those days, we presume, squareness was a positive trait.



In Roman law, a slave was freed when he was allowed to wear __X__. This symbol of emancipation might have been the inspiration for Oxford adopting the practice of giving  __X__ to the recipient of a Master's of Art when he graduated. The  __X__symbolized independence for the former bachelor.



4 comments:

Nagaratna said...

Graduation Hat
It's called a square academic cap it seems.
Who knew?

Pi.R.Square said...

the academic hat for graduation

Honey Ras said...

the artiicial long wig of hair and the squre gradation headresses???? with gown eh?

Anirban said...

X= Cap
Y= Graduation