If you have ever gone to any type of graduation in the past, you're sure to have noticed the sorts of gowns put on by the graduates. Academic gowns, as they're normally known, goes back to the medieval ages when top European universities made it imperative for students to be in academic clothing at all times.

In the U.S., before getting to college, children experience two types of graduations: Grammar and High School. In both instances, the graduating students have to wear graduation caps and gowns for the formal rite.

Graduation from grammar school signifies the crossing over of a child into a young adult and going to high school. In past times, graduating from grammar school brought the same weight as graduating from high school. A significant number of graduates did not feel the need to go beyond the 9th grade. As legislators worked tirelessly on improving laws, students are now required to remain in school right up until such time they reach the ages of 16 or 17, based mostly on the state where they reside.

In the olden days, students were required to put on academic attire at all times. Additionally they dressed in dark clothing beneath the gowns. Those who attended universities were males. The kind of attire worn signified the level of learning they've attained in the university.

Caps and gowns developed to become the appropriate graduation attire in the US beginning in the late nineteen hundreds. During those times, graduation gowns or robes had to be black. Curiously, hoods were used at one point instead of caps, which is the more accepted practice these days. Tassels are connected to the graduation caps for both grammar school and high school in the states. As a part of the graduation ceremony, the tassel is shifted to the other side of the cap, symbolizing the turning of a new leaf and by concluding that specific section in the student's education. Frequently, as a part of the celebration, graduates toss their caps as high up in the air as they can.

In the 1950s, it became popular for high schools and grammar schools to color their robes to the school colors. Many high schools and grammar schools in the United States have two school colors. It is not unusual for boys to wear one color and girls to wear another color when it comes to graduation caps and gowns. For instance, if the colors are blue and gold, it's not unusual for the girls to use gold while the boys don blue.

National Honor Society scholars in both grammar and high schools are given the privilege to wear indemnifying characteristics in their graduation attire. These may range from needing to wear a different colored gown and/or cap to having special garments over the academic attire to characterize this recognition.

In the 60's, plenty of students protesting against the compulsory wearing of academic apparel during graduation triggered a large amount of schools voting against the wearing of caps and gowns for graduation rites.

In the US, attendance to kindergarten is not a necessity. This is among the main reasons why graduation rites for kindergartens are virtually new. Graduation from kindergarten is a symbol of a child's readiness to take on the more challenging tasks ahead in school. This beloved practice of graduating for kindergartens began gaining ground in the US only in the 1980's.

As graduation events continue to evolve, so do the apparel and other items relating to them. Regardless of the color or style used, graduation gowns have consistently maintained their relevance as the symbol of a student's achievements and readiness to take on the next step.