Academic regalia is a fancy outfit that people wear when they participate in important academic events, like college graduations. Harvard University is a special college that has its own unique academic regalia. This outfit is made up of several different parts that all have special meanings.
First, there's a black robe that covers the entire body. It's made of a special type of material called serge and has long, flowing sleeves. The robe represents the seriousness and importance of the event.
Next, there's a hood that hangs down the back of the robe. This hood is made of silk and has two different colors representing the person's degree and field of study. For example, a person who studied science might have a hood with blue and gold colors, while a person who studied literature might have a hood with white and gold colors.
Underneath the robe and hood, the person wears a special outfit called a "hooder." This person is designated to help them with their hood during the ceremony.
Finally, on top of the outfit, the person wears a special hat called a "mortarboard." This is a square-shaped hat that has a tassel hanging off the top. The tassel also has different colors representing the person's degree and field of study.
So, in summary, academic regalia is a fancy outfit that people wear during important academic events like college graduations. The academic regalia of Harvard University is made up of a black robe, silk hood with two different colors, hooder outfit, and a mortarboard hat with a tassel that indicates the person's degree and field of study.