Ridiculous yet dignified: Graduation regalia

Graduation regalia began in the 1100 and 1200's  when universitys began to form up across Europe. The only job at this time that required a degree was the Clergy. So the regalia was modeled after the typical robes of the clergy which made up a large section of scholars. From the mid 1300's onward colleges many colleges began regulating what their students could and could not wear, gowns became even more standardized. It was not until the late 1800's and only in the United States that specific cut, color, and details were standardized by most colleges to indicate very specific things such as area of study. The caps, also called mortarboards because they resemble the boards masons hold mortar on came into the picture in the 1400's. In many colleges it was against the rule to wear hats so instead students took up caps and mortarboards, originally mortarboards were only for doctorate students and signified their position as a teacher.