A History of Toga as the Significant Symbol of Graduation

VIVA – Graduation is one of the happiest moments in someone's life. In this process, usually, someone will wear a cap and Toga. Well, here’s the history of why Toga becomes significant in Graduation. As quoted from various sources, it turns out that Toga in Latin is tego which means the cover and comes from the Romans.

Toga is an ancient garment that has a length of -+ 20 meters when used, this clothing was used by the Etruscans who lived around 1200 AD, the clothing material is made of woolen cloth, and the way to wear it is quite unique, the long cloth is wrapped around the wearer's body, and tied.

In the 1200 BC period, clothes were often worn by the people of Rome for activities outside the home. At that time, the form of the toga was not yet in the form of a robe, but only a six-meter-long cloth wrapped around the body.

Although impractical, the toga was the only clothing that was considered appropriate when one was outdoors to cover their body. Back then, a toga was a thick woolen coat worn after a loincloth or apron.

The toga was therefore replaced by the lighter Sagum (woolen coat) in all military activities. However, due to the Roman sentiment towards the toga, it has remained an important garment such as the imperial court since around 44 BC.

Over time, the use of the toga for daily activities began to be abandoned. In modern times, toga clothing began to be modified in shape, changing its function to become official clothing at graduation.

The toga robe in the graduation ceremony is mostly black, which turns out to have a philosophy that the graduates or graduates have succeeded in obtaining enlightenment (knowledge) after successfully passing the education level, defeating shadows (no knowledge).

The use of gowns and headdresses as academic symbols began to be adopted by several universities in medieval times. The first universities to formalize graduation clothes or graduation togas were the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge.

In 1321, the two campuses made a ban on excessive clothing at graduation. The university also requires everyone to wear a graduation robe as a symbol of the badge.

The use Toga for academic matters continued to be adopted into the colonial era in the American territories. After the Civil War, they were restricted to celebrating one's graduation.

The graduation cap and toga are recognized and obligatory. While graduation robes were no longer used for warmth, but as a complement that signified a person’s field of study. Since then, the tradition of toga has evolved and become a significant part of one's academic experience.