On this day, in 1642, Harvard had its first commencement. This single event led to America’s growing trend of graduations. This 1642 commencement was America’s “first taste of nonreligious European ritual.” [1] Where the original ‘ritual’ was reserved for those that accomplished the feat of graduation from college, now it is a ‘landmark occasion’ that happens half a dozen times. Pre-K graduation, kindergarten graduation, grade school, middle school, high school…you get the picture.

Commencements were originally a grand event. Along with the academic procession–there were nine “commencers” for the 1642 Harvard Commencement, if you cared–there was a lavish feast, public speeches given from all the commencers, and then a series of debates on age-old topics.

As America has watered down the significance of the graduation ceremony, just remember as you graduate, whether it be from pre-school, high school, or your PhD, that you have accomplished something and in doing so are partaking in one of America’s oldest traditions.

[1] http://www.harvard.edu/spirit-commencement

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Grant Oster

I love history. I write here because I have a passion to learn about history, and in doing so I get the opportunity to interact with other history lovers. My favorite aspects of history are government / constitutional history, civil rights, and World War II.

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