A bracing May Day tradition in St Andrews will make a splash virtually with students scattered around the globe.
At dawn every May 1 hundreds of St Andrews University students normally plunge into the chilly North Sea to observe a custom said to bring exam luck and wash away academic sins.
To keep the spring semester convention alive in coronavirus lockdown, students who are learning remotely are to take part in a virtual May Dip from their homes around the UK and the rest of the world.
Soaking for St Andrews organisers are asking students to get drenched – whether fully-clothed in the shower, hosed in their backyard or jumping into a pool – and share footage on Instagram.
The challenge organised by the Fellowship of St Andrews student group will raise money for the University Community Fund which is supporting students who remain in the town through the Covid-19 crisis.
First fellow Charlotte Jiang said: “On May 1 of any normal year, our university’s traditional May Dip will physically bring together its students on East Sands, where we plunge ourselves into the North Sea with our friends and academic families.
“This year, in light of the remotely-taught semester, the Fellowship of St Andrews seeks to virtually unite our students together through our event, Soaking for St Andrews.
“We are very much excited to spread the May Dip spirit to our students who are at home across the globe, whilst furthering our social enterprise’s mission of fundraising for, serving and appreciating our town.”
The £30,000-a-year University Community Fund will support organisations and groups from across Fife in providing activities that have a positive impact on St Andrews and its neighbouring communities, or those that have worked to increase engagement with the university.
It is currently delivering vital aid including food, medication, PPE, IT equipment and guidance for students in the town.
Students have been advised not to perform the dip in the North Sea if they are still resident in St Andrews and to abide by lockdown and isolation rules where they are.
