The Art of Recognition: A Brief History of Awards

When George Lucas wrote Star Wars IV: A New Hope, he had awards on his mind. The blockbuster ends not with the Death Star’s destruction, but with an awards ceremony.

Under a triumphant score, Princess Leia presents Luke Skywalker and Han Solo with medals for their heroics—almost as if Lucas were nudging the Academy, saying, “How about some Oscars?” It worked. The film won six in 1978.

While Star Wars is fiction, awards have been part of human history for centuries.

A Brief History of Awards

Awards have long been a way to recognize excellence, from athletic feats to acts of bravery. The Olympics are among the oldest examples, with the first modern medals awarded in 1896. But in ancient Greece, winners didn’t receive gold, silver, or bronze—they were crowned with laurel or olive wreaths and given a red wool ribbon called a taenia. These simple prizes symbolized honor rather than material wealth.

The Romans also embraced the tradition of awarding crowns. One of the highest honors was the corona civica, or “civic crown,” made of oak leaves. This was presented to Roman citizens who saved a fellow citizen’s life in battle. Unlike Greek Olympic awards, which celebrated athleticism, the corona civica recognized courage and sacrifice, making it one of Rome’s most prestigious military decorations.

As time passed, awards became more elaborate. By the 17th century, physical trophies gained popularity. In 1673, the British introduced the Antient Scorton Arrow tournament in Yorkshire, where the top marksman was awarded a silver arrow. The tradition continues today, though the original arrow is preserved in the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds.

Not all awards take themselves too seriously. The Ashes, a biennial Test cricket series between England and Australia, gets its name from an 1882 mock obituary declaring English cricket “dead” after a loss to Australia. The winners take home an urn said to contain the ashes of a wooden cricket bail—a humorous yet fiercely contested prize.

The Oscars and Beyond

Of course, some awards are designed to be as grand as the achievements they recognize. Since 1929, the Academy Awards—better known as the Oscars—have been Hollywood’s highest honor. The famous statuettes, made of solid bronze and plated with 24-karat gold, symbolize excellence in filmmaking.

The first Academy Awards ceremony was a far cry from today’s star-studded event. Held in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the 1929 gathering was a private dinner with just 270 guests. The winners had already been announced in advance, so there was no suspenseful envelope opening or teary acceptance speeches.

Today, the ceremony draws millions of viewers worldwide, and winning an Oscar remains one of the highest honors in entertainment.

But Hollywood isn’t the only place where awards matter.

At Fair Publishing, we’ve been producing awards for over a century—no need for red carpets or intergalactic battles. From ribbons and trophies to plaques and rosettes, we create high-quality awards for events across the USA.

If you need awards for an upcoming event, we would love to discuss how we can help. We also have good news: While inflation has caused costs to skyrocket for many businesses, our catalog prices in 2025 are the same as in 2024! 

Explore our catalog today to learn more about our offerings. Then click “Start Planning” on our site or call us to begin working with us. We look forward to hearing from you and using our experience to enrich your events with memorable awards, supplies, and promotional materials that will continue to make an impact long after the event is over!