Six centuries of mentoring ritual

For six hundred years, first-year students at the University of St Andrews in Scotland have thanked older students for mentoring them through their first weeks of university life.

From raisins to shaving foam

Traditionally, freshers gave their elders a pound of raisins, hence the name Raisin Monday. Now hundreds of students in fancy dress spray each other with shaving foam on St Salvator's lower college lawn.

Costumes and chaos unfold

Groups dress as Smurfs, mice, bananas, grandmas, sunflowers and chefs. Second and third year students known as mums and dads choose themes for their matched first years and cheer from the lawn's edge.

Connection in a disconnected world

Freya, a first year dressed as a periodic table element, says traditions like this matter because people are less connected face to face than before. Getting to do something like this brings everyone together.

“Traditions like this are much more important because people are less connected face to face than they were before. Getting to do something like this brings everyone together.”

Breaking down barriers at a small university

More than half of the small town of St Andrews is made up of students from all over the world.

Meeting people you would not usually encounter

Deborah, an American medical student whose group dressed as Megamind, says the small university allows events like this. It brings people together and helps create community with people you would not usually meet.

Evolution and charitable giving

In two thousand twenty-six, the Sunday sea dip is now optional.Students are encouraged to donate to a local food bank before spraying shaving foam, and the event appears far less alcohol-fuelled than in previous years.