Circa 1909 - Family and friends surround graduating seniors on the Pleasure Grounds. Photo courtesy of Nancy Rutman

Moravian Moment
Remembering our heritage

Commencement Traditions

By Nancy Rutman '84

The past two years have proven the Moravian University community to be adaptable and resilient. There is no better illustration than the fact that in 2021, for the first time in its history, the university held commencement exercises for two different graduating classes in the same year. This hasn’t been the only case of graduation traditions falling by the wayside (even temporarily), however. They have been curtailed by a Civil War and two world wars.

Many of the customs and rituals common on campus a century ago seem quaint to us now. Then, celebrations surrounding Commencement at both the men’s and women’s campuses stretched over several days, involving Baccalaureate services, Class Days, gatherings of alumni and alumnae, art exhibitions, dramatic and musical performances, and athletic competitions.

(Left) 1916 - The senior class processes downhill from Main Hall. (Right) 1916 - Class members are joined by a handmade daisy chain.
Photos courtesy of Moravian University Special Collections

On the campus of the Moravian College for Women, for example, the college’s music and “expression” departments presented public recitals of music, poetry, and scenes from Shakespeare’s plays. Commencement services took place (weather permitting) on the lawn of the Pleasure Grounds, where a small temporary platform could comfortably fit an entire graduating class. As the senior class marched proudly down the path from Main Hall to the platform singing the class song, they were joined together by a long daisy chain, which they had made from flowers they had gathered from the surrounding countryside. During the ceremony, they presented a class history, class tablet, class poem, class will, and class gift. As the final class roll was called, each woman ceremoniously broke the teacup from which she had been drinking. Later, the class would join in planting a class tree. A long-standing tradition was a service of remembrance at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Bethlehem’s West Side, which the students decorated with hand-picked flowers as they departed.

Meanwhile, at the Moravian Seminary and College for Men, students presented scenes from Greek dramas and selections by the college glee club. Class sizes were small enough that graduation exercises could be held in the Helen Stadiger Borhek Memorial Chapel. Since it was customary a century ago for alumni to gather on campus during graduation week, a baseball rivalry began between the college’s varsity team and alumni players. Perhaps this is one tradition that could be revived!