Graduation Season

It's that time of year for graduations.  I might also add that it's wedding season as well.  Both weddings and graduations are supposedly happy ceremonies.  Those attending graduations and weddings may cry despite being extremely proud and happy.  That's where the irony should end.

There tends to be confusion between the definition of "ceremony" and "celebration" especially at graduations.  It's a pity those graduating are given a diploma and turned loose on society without knowing how to use a dictionary for understanding the difference between "ceremony" and "celebration" nor possessing basic social manners.  However, we are making a huge guess in assuming those receiving diplomas (and their families) can actually read and have evolved beyond the neanderthal stage.

Let me help.

A ceremony is a dignified, polite, formal act prescribed by ritual and/or protocol.   May I stress the words 'dignified' and 'formal.' 

A celebration is to observe a notable occasion with festivities -- a party, if you will.

Granted, you have to have functioning cerebral matter to differentiate the definitions of above two underlined words, but let me dumb it down for you.

Word to graduates and their families who raised them:  The ceremony is NOT the celebration.  If you disagree then how would you feel about your bridesmaids tossing tortillas and beach balls during your wedding?  How would you feel about your new mother-in-law blowing a horn while you were exchanging your vows?  What about your best man walking down the aisle donning a big, goofy party hat?  Both weddings and graduations are happy occasions, right? What's the issue?

Ohhhh.... there's a time and place for everything.  Get it?

High School Graduation Ceremonies

It's that wonderful time of the year again. Kids all across America are graduating from high school.

Big deal.

What was once a formal ceremony with significance has turned into a meaningless frat party. There are beach balls, tortillias, and other you-name-it objects being thrown around during speaches. And this is supposed to be a ritual celebrating the transition into adulthood? Puh-LEEZ!

Granted, I'm not a fan of long winded talking heads who relish in the sound of their own voice proclaiming that "this is the best class ever." However, it is supposed to be a dignified event and I can do without being hit in the head with a beach ball while I'm searching the crowd for my graduate. Grow up.

It's not just the graduates who demonstrate this childish behavior. Parents perpetuate it with hooting and holloring when asked to withhold applause and cheering until the very end. The other behavior that irks me to no end are the parents who are there only to see THEIR kid walk across the stage and then leave causing a distraction and disturbance making their exit. God help the kid who has a last name ending in Z. It's just rude to get up and leave. If you're not going to stay for the entire ceremony, please do us all a favor and just stay home.

The high school graduation ceremony has lost its significage and meaning. Why not just have one big loud, rucous party on site? Isn't that what it has evolved into?