Key Takeaways
- St Andrews University’s 600-year-old tradition of Raisin Monday has evolved into a foam fight.
- Students dress in fancy costumes and use shaving cream to play the annual rite of passage.
- The event has been a staple at the university for decades, with the foam fight becoming the highlight.
At St Andrews University in Scotland, the traditional Raisin Monday has transformed into a modern foam fight, with students donning fancy dress and using shaving cream to play the annual rite of passage.
For 600 years, first-year students have been giving their older counterparts a pound of raisins as a token of gratitude for their guidance during the first few weeks of university life.
However, in recent decades, the event has taken a different turn, with students now arriving on the college lawn at 11am on the first Monday of the academic year, armed with cans of shaving foam.
This year, hundreds of students dressed in a variety of costumes, including Smurfs, mice, bananas, grandmas, sunflowers, and chefs, as they covered each other in soapy clouds, creating a scene reminiscent of a giant foam fight.
The transformation of Raisin Monday into a foam fight has become a significant part of the university’s culture, with the event drawing attention from both students and the wider community.
While the tradition of giving raisins still exists, the foam fight has become the highlight of the day, with students eagerly participating in the annual rite of passage.
The event has been a staple at St Andrews for decades, with the foam fight becoming a beloved and anticipated part of the academic calendar.
Despite the change in the nature of the tradition, the core purpose of Raisin Monday remains the same – to foster a sense of community and gratitude among students.
