大學新生狂歡：英國高校上演“泡沫大戰”

聖安德魯斯大學是蘇格蘭最古老的大學，也是英國的第三所大學，其悠久的歷史僅次於牛津及劍橋大學。11月21日，該校迎來一年一度的“葡萄乾星期一”。這個節日源於該校過去的一個傳統：一年級的新生在11月要向學長們獻上葡萄乾，感謝他們的幫助。如今，葡萄乾已被美酒和泡沫大戰代替。泡沫大戰每年都會有，吸引了不少學生參加，這一活動有助於剛入大學的新生們快速地、輕鬆地融入大學新生活。

These frolicking freshers look like there's nowhere else they'd lather be.

In a bizarre ancient tradition, hundreds of first years had a massive foam fight at Scotland's St Andrews University yesterday.

The event was part of the annual Raisin Monday celebration, which is believed to date back to when the university was founded in 1413.

First years paraded into St Salvator's Quadrangle, known as 'The Quad', in fancy dress, before the 30-minute foam battle kicked off.

Students were left covered head-to-toe and the foam was so thick it was used to style hair during the skirmish.

Raisin Monday weekend is designed to help new students integrate more easily into university life.

It comes from the time when freshers were 'adopted' by senior students and even now each first year student is invited to join a 'family' of senior students.

They are encouraged to drink as much as possible and carry out various forfeits.

The tradition dates back to the early days of the university, where Prince William was once a student.

New students would give senior students - known as 'guardians' - a pound of raisins in gratitude for their help in adapting to university life, in exchange for a receipt written in Latin.

Failure to produce such a receipt could result in a dousing in the local fountain.

Nowadays, the raisins have been replaced with a bottle of wine and the dousing with foam.

In a break with tradition, the new students sometimes present a gift to older students in exchange for the receipt.

Guardians have been known to present large items such as canoes, brass beds and once a bath tub as receipts in return.