How do students celebrate graduation?

[Hugo Sanchez-Castillo]

There is a time to celebrate an end of a cycle... Here in Mexico, graduation is considered, one of the most important achievements in society. Is the result of years of study, wakefulness, anxiety, stress, etc. due to that effort, we considered that is a memorable day to remember and to celebrate. This event has two faces: academic and social. In the academic one, there is the defense of the ultimate project, the student has to defend his/her thesis in front of a committee (however, right now the university is offering different ways of graduation). at the end of that defense, if the defense succeeds, the student takes the oath and receives his/her grade. In the social part, there is an informal party (just for the students), the party sometimes is at some beach. There is another party (a formal one) in which the students have a reception and include the parents, family, and friends to celebrate the new graduate.

Too much party right?

Edited May 19 by Hugo Sanchez-Castillo
Ortographic failure

[Julia Araujo]

I relate a lot with it here at Brazil, Hugo!

Graduation is also considered one of the most important achievements in society. Mostly, because it used to represent an assurance of getting hired or to succeed in any job. With that in mind, we usually (whether by the end of Elementary, High school or college) have some main types of celebrations (if I didn't  forget anything):

1) Colação de grau: the formal "graduation day" (as similar as the ones we seen in American movies)

2) Baile: more like a prom party for the students just to dance. In this occasion, people usually bring slippers so they can dance through the night.

3) Confraternização: some sort of informal party (at school classes or at offices) where each person brings a dish and some games take place, just as a "secret santa" ("amigo secreto", in English, "secret friend")

4) Jantar: would be literally translated as supper, but represents a really formal dinner event surrounding food and family members of the ones that are graduating

5) Religious events (usually a mass): Brazilians are, in majority, christians (and, specially, catholics). Therefore, many of the education institutions provide a special day purely for religious events.

I agree, Hugo... So many celebrations!