Students enjoy some hell-raisin

Students from St Andrews University yesterday kept up their tradition of covering themselves with foam to honour the "academic family".

Foam is now a key part of the culmination of "raisin weekend". In the past, raisins were given by first-year students to their elders as a thank you for their guidance.

About 1,500 students took part in the event yesterday using an estimated 3,000 cans of foam. In previous years, local shops have sold out. Students were dressed in a variety of guises including Vikings, animals and Santa Clauses.

Raisin Weekend began at the university after the Second World War as a way of welcoming and integrating new students. Senior students formed "academic families" and the "children" (first years) were looked after and shown around for the first six weeks. This culminated in raisin weekend - where the "mother" hosts a tea party and the "father" takes the "child" out on the town.

On the following Monday "children", dressed in fancy dress by their "parents", now parade through the town and into St Salvator's Quadrangle where they take part in a massive shaving foam fight.

Raisin derives from a coloured string made by the "mother" with items attached reflecting the "child's" personality. In the past the return gift was a pound of raisins (now a bottle of wine).