Back home in the U.S., when you graduate from an important school level you wear a cap and gown and attend a large ceremony with a crowd of friends and family. All of the people in your grade graduate at the same time together. The graduation ceremony usually starts with a speaker, then one by one each student’s name is called and they walk across the stage to shake the hands of their teachers. At the end of the line, the students get a piece of paper, which is their diploma. After the ceremony, many graduates celebrate with photos, dinner, and then a party with friends later that night.
You likely did something like this for your kindergarten graduation! Your classes all got together, your teachers each spoke, and then you may have recieved a little diploma!
Here in Italy, graduation looks really different. I’m excited to teach you about their unique traditions!
Italian college graduation looks different from American graduation! This is because the end of their school year is a little different. Instead of everyone finishing the school year at the same time, Italian students each finish the year at different times over a couple month period. Each student has one big final presentation or test, and once they finish that, they have officially graduated.
