Some traditions, rituals and superstitions of St Andrew’s, Oxford and Cambridge Univerities

1. ACADEMIC DRESS

Sub fusc

Sub fusc is compulsory dress worn both in Oxford and Cambridge. It is required during exams, matriculation ceremonies, formal hall or other official events. Students also must wear the appropriate academic gown and mortar bord (which can be removed during examination or being inside the University) or soft cap. Elements of sub fucs vary a bit and depend on degree you are taking (commoners gown – BA, BFA, Bth; scholars gown – master’s deegres; graduate gown – e.g. Msc or Mphil) and your gender.

Sub fusc for woman usually consist of black or dark skirt, clack tights or stockings, black tie and white shirt. Men are supposed to wear black suit with plain white shirt and white or black bow tie.

During exams students wear carnation attached to their gown. The color of carnations depens from what examin you are taking. During first examination students wear a white carnation, then pink while taking intermediate examinations, and a red carnation on final exams. Wearing carnation is not comulsory. The most probably reason of this tradition is the practice taken by students before exams. It is said that they used to put a white carnation in red ink-pots between exams, what was making it completely red before last exams. Also, the tradition says that carnations must be given to studens by somebody else.

2. SUPERSTITIONS AND RITUALS

Universities have a lot of weird traditions related to taking exams. Students are supposed to abide by the rules if they want to pass all of their exams.

Edwin Landseer’s painting “Man proposes, God disposes”

This infamous painting is reputed to make students fail their exams. It’s a depiction of two polar bears eating parts of the ship and human remains. The painting itself was insired by the mysterious disappearance, more than 160 years ago, of ships led by Sir John Franklin with the whole ships’ crew.

Students believe that this painting is bringing bad luck during exams unless it’s covered up. The tradition of covering the picture started in the 1970s when one of the students refused to sit near it. In order to carry the exams, registrar came up with the idea of covering it with a massive union jack flag because he couldn’t find anything bigger. The same flag stayed on the painting every year during exams. 

The reasons are unknown, but some believe that this piece of art will make students fail their exams, just like the ships’ crew failed to find the Northwest Passage.

Saint Salvator's Unlucky PH

The story of the PH is connected to the history of Patrick Hamilton, a scholar of the University of St Andrews, accused of being a heretic. He was found guilty and, as a punishment, burned at the stake outside the University. He was burning for six hours and during this time, Patrick Hamiltion casted a curse on the future students of St Andrews. It’s a reason why most students are afraid that standing on his initials will lead to failing their exams. In order to get rid of bad luck students are taking part in yearly May Dip.

May Dip

It’s another famous tradition of St Andrew’s University. Students choose to take part in it in order to get rid of their curse or just have fun. During the first day of May students get up early to watch the sunrise, drink lots of alcohol and then, half-dressed or completly naked run into freezing water of North Sea a good luck tradition before exams start. May Day celebrations are also held to mark the start of spring.