12 Unique Graduation Traditions around the World

Graduation traditions serve as cultural markers of pride and transition. From graduation celebrations to symbolic gestures, these customs bring meaning to every student’s final academic chapter, wherever they are in the world.

Curious about how different cultures and campuses celebrate graduation? This guide explores unique college graduation traditions and school-based rituals around the world, so you can see what makes each one meaningful.

• Unique College Graduation Traditions around the World

• Unique School-Based Graduation Traditions
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Unique College Graduation Traditions around the World

Graduation is a personal milestone recognized across the globe. While the meaning behind it stays universal, the traditions surrounding it have long reflected local customs, values, and identity.

Some of the earliest graduation traditions began in medieval European universities, where formal ceremonies and regalia signified academic achievement. Though the structure and attire remain in many countries today, these rituals have evolved with the cultures and communities that celebrate them. Here’s a closer look at how students honor this moment around the world:

1. United States – cap toss and decoration

If there’s one image that defines American graduation traditions, it’s the cap toss. You’ve seen it in films like Legally Blonde—a sea of students throwing their academic caps into the air, marking the end of years of hard work and the start of something new.

The practice, which began at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1912, quickly caught on and is now a staple of college graduation traditions nationwide. Today, many students also decorate their caps with quotes or designs, turning a uniform tradition into something more personal.

2. United Kingdom – cap doffing

In the UK, students mark graduation a little more subtly—with a cap doff instead of a toss. It’s a small gesture: a slight lift or tip of the cap during official photos or while walking across the stage. But just like the American cap toss, it carries a quiet sense of pride and closure.

The tradition of doffing dates back centuries, originally used as a sign of respect in academic and military settings. At older universities like Cambridge and Sheffield University, where formality still defines the ceremony, the doff remains a polished and time-honored college graduation tradition.

3. Portugal – Queima das Fitas (“Burning of the Ribbons”)

Portugal’s Queima das Fitas puts a lively spin on college graduation traditions. As the name suggests, this week-long celebration ends with the symbolic burning of ribbons, marking the end of student life and the joy of a long academic journey.

Originating from the University of Coimbra, the tradition has since evolved into a nationwide festivity. From parades and concerts to student serenades, it’s one of the most iconic graduation traditions in the country, blending academic pride with city-wide celebration since the 1850s.

4. Italy – laurel wreath crowning

For many graduating students, Italy’s laurel wreath ceremony is a true crowning moment. Graduates receive a corona laurea—a crown of laurel leaves—as a symbol of achievement and personal victory after successfully defending their thesis.

Rooted in Ancient Roman customs, the practice remains strong today, especially in cities like Milan, Padua, and Bologna. What was once a symbol of honor and triumph in battle, worn by poets, scholars, and emperors, has evolved into a graduation tradition that feels like a true rite of passage.

5. Mexico – serenades and mariachi bands

Graduation traditions in Mexico are vibrant celebrations filled with music, emotion, and a strong sense of community. It’s common for graduates to be serenaded by mariachi bands, either during the ceremony or at private celebrations with family and friends.

These serenatas—heartfelt musical tributes—blend Mexico’s rich cultural heritage with academic pride and offer a unique way to express congratulations and well wishes. The tradition has even crossed borders, with Mexican-American communities in the U.S. embracing mariachi performances as a meaningful part of graduation festivities.

6. Ghana – Kente cloth

Nothing says academic pride for graduates in Ghana than donning the traditional Kente cloth. Known for its bold colors and intricate patterns, the handwoven fabric carries deep cultural meaning while draped over the shoulders of graduates in ceremonies. Once reserved for royalty, it stands today as a visible sign of personal success and cultural connection.

Originating in the Ashanti Kingdom, the Kente cloth is now incorporated into the official regalia of many universities in Ghana, often in the form of stoles or tassels. The graduation tradition is also embraced by members of the African diaspora worldwide—a meaningful way to honor heritage in this important milestone.

7. Nigeria – ankara attire

Few send-off looks are as bold and expressive as the custom Ankara outfits worn by Nigerian graduates. Tailored with pride, these patterned ensembles are worn to receptions, photo sessions, and sometimes even beneath graduation robes—often coordinated with family or friends.

The graduation tradition blends fashion with meaning. Made from African wax fabric, the attire is deeply rooted in West African heritage and allows students to express pride in a personal way. While colors and patterns often reflect specific ethnic identities, the Ankara look remains a powerful way to honor tradition—both within Nigeria and among West African graduates in the diaspora.

8. India – lamp lighting

The symbolic lighting of the ceremonial lamp is a quiet but meaningful graduation ritual that marks the start of many ceremonies in India. Known as the diya or deepam, the flame represents knowledge, enlightenment, and the transition from student life to a new chapter.

Though rooted in ancient Hindu practices, the ritual—often called deepa prajvalan—is now embraced across Indian institutions, regardless of religious background. It’s seen as an auspicious way to invite purity, positivity, and blessings for the graduates, reflecting a shared cultural value: that education is a guiding light against ignorance.

9. Hawai‘i – lei giving

Graduation celebrations in Hawai‘i wouldn’t be what they are without a cascade of flower leis. These fragrant garlands—given by family and friends after the ceremony—stand as one of the most beloved graduation traditions in Hawaiian culture. Lei-giving also symbolizes honor and affection for the graduate.

The leis often pile so high that only the graduate’s eyes peek through. While each flower or color may carry its own meaning, the act as a whole reflects the value of relationships and ʻohana (Hawaiian for family) in every milestone. Ultimately, it’s a way of honoring the community that made the achievement possible.

10. Thailand – Royal-presided ceremonies

Graduation is a once-in-a-lifetime honor tied to national pride for many students in Thailand. That’s especially true at several public universities, where members of the Thai royal family personally present diplomas in a highly anticipated graduation ceremony tradition that began in the 1930s.

Marked by precision, etiquette, and deep cultural meaning, this rare opportunity remains one of the most prestigious graduation honors in the world. The practice continues at institutions like Chulalongkorn and Thammasat University, where graduates are trained to walk, bow, and receive their degrees with care—a sign of deep respect for the tradition.

11. South Korea – post-graduation jjajangmyeon

Food plays a central role in many graduation celebrations—and nothing says “you made it” quite like a bowl of jjajangmyeon in Korea. After the ceremony, it’s common for graduates to gather with loved ones to share this savory black bean noodle dish, marking the milestone over a meal.

While not a formal part of the ceremony, the dish has become a quiet rite of passage. It’s filling, affordable, and meant to be shared—making it the go-to choice to celebrate. Once considered a special-occasion meal, jjajangmyeon is now one of the most well-loved graduation traditions in Korea, for good reason.

12. Philippines – sablay and cultural sashes

There’s no graduation attire quite as striking as the “sablay” in the Philippines. First introduced and officially adopted by the University of the Philippines, this maroon handwoven sash has become an honored graduation tradition that marks a student’s academic transition.

The sash, often draped over one shoulder, is ceremonially shifted to the other. Adorned with indigenous patterns and baybayin script, the sablay also reflects cultural pride and identity. Inspired by its significance, several institutions have begun adapting their own versions of cultural sashes into graduation wear to honor heritage.

Unique School-Based Graduation Traditions

Not all graduation traditions are shaped by country or culture—some can be found right on campus. From spontaneous spectacles to long-standing rituals, these school-based traditions reflect student identity and community spirit. While there are plenty to explore, here are some of the most notable college graduation traditions tied to specific universities around the world:

1. Stanford University (US) – wacky walk

As one of the most playful graduation rituals in the U.S., Stanford University’s “Wacky Walk” trades the traditional processional for a fun display of individuality. Once described by a Stanford alum as a “moment of self-expression,” the annual tradition has featured everything from banana costumes to full Winnie the Pooh ensembles during students’ final walk on campus.

2. Williams College (US) – watch-dropping tradition

The watch-dropping ritual at Williams College began as a spontaneous experiment in 1916 and has since become one of the school’s quirkiest graduation traditions. Each Commencement, a watch is dropped from the 80-foot spire of Thompson Memorial Chapel, with the hope that it shatters—supposedly bringing good luck to the graduating class.

3. University of Oxford (UK) – Latin graduation ceremonies

While some universities like Cambridge include Latin in parts of their graduation ceremonies, none use it as fully or formally as Oxford. Held in the Sheldonian Theatre, the entire ceremony—from the procession to the conferral of degrees—is conducted in Latin as a lasting tribute to the university’s historical roots.

4. Dalhousie University (Canada) – barley ring

Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture puts a fresh spin on the traditional class ring with its barley ring, awarded each year at the school’s Barley Party. Designed by local jeweler Donna Hiebert, the ring serves as a meaningful graduation tradition that symbolizes the shared bond within the alumni community.

5. National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan) – vegetable bouquet-giving

What started as a quirky student project has grown into a sustainable graduation tradition at National Tsing Hua University. Instead of flowers, graduates receive handcrafted vegetable bouquets—practical, edible, and perfect for photos. Sold in limited quantities on campus, these one-of-a-kind mementos make for a fun and memorable send-off.

6. Kyoto University (Japan) – costume graduation

At Kyoto University, graduation day takes a creative turn as students trade caps and gowns for full costumes. From anime characters and pop culture icons like E.T. to inflatable dinosaurs, this lighthearted tradition celebrates personal expression—fully embraced by students and supported by the university’s famously relaxed stance.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why do graduates throw their caps in the air?

Throwing your cap symbolizes the end of student life and the excitement of what comes next. This now-iconic graduation ritual started at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1912 and has since become a celebratory staple at schools around the world.

2. Which countries have the most unique college graduation traditions?

Many countries put their own spin on graduation traditions, but a few truly stand out: Portugal’s Queima das Fitas, mariachi serenatas in Mexico, and royal diploma ceremonies in Thailand. These are just a few of the distinct graduation traditions around the world worth exploring.

3. Can graduates only wear cap and gowns at graduation ceremonies?

Not always. While caps and gowns are common in many countries, others make space for attire that reflects culture or identity. In the Philippines, some students wear cultural sashes, while graduates in Nigeria and Ghana often add Ankara or Kente cloth. These variations in graduation traditions around the world show that it’s possible to honor both academic success and heritage.

4. Are there any graduation traditions specific to colleges or universities?

Graduation traditions may be shared across countries, but some schools have customs all their own. From Stanford University’s Wacky Walk to vegetable bouquets at Taiwan’s National Tsing Hua University, these school-based graduation traditions reflect campus culture, humor, and pride in unique ways—even around the world.

Takeaways

When exploring graduation traditions around the world, here’s everything worth noting:

• Reflecting more than just customs, unique college graduation traditions carry pride, heritage, and the emotional weight of finishing something hard-earned.
• From Portugal’s Queima das Fitas to mariachi serenatas in Mexico, some traditions take a loud and festive approach—reminders of how culture and community shape the way students celebrate.
• Others are more subtle and sentimental, like sharing jjajangmyeon in South Korea or showcasing cultural garments during ceremonies in Ghana, Nigeria, and the Philippines.
• At certain schools, campus traditions like Oxford’s Latin ceremonies or Stanford’s Wacky Walk give graduation a personal twist, highlighting identity, humor, or tradition.
• Thinking of showcasing your roots at your dream school? A college admissions expert can help you find the right campus and craft an application that reflects both your goals and cultural identity.