Gowns
Our most famous tradition is probably the red academic gown, which is usually worn at formal occasions – though you can choose to wear it all of the time (or not at all) if you like.
The red gown was introduced as a way of preventing under-age students from illicit drinking in public houses!
Students wear the red gown differently according to which year they are in:
- Bejants (first-year students) wear the gown fully up on their shoulders.
- Semi-bejants (second-year students) wear the gown slightly back off their shoulders.
- Tertians (third-year students) wear the gown either fully off the right shoulder if studying science or the left shoulder if studying arts (“Arts have hearts, but scientists are always right”!).
- Magistrands (fourth-year students) wear the gown off both shoulders, across the elbows.
This tradition represents each student growing wiser with each passing year and shrugging off the support of the University until they finally leave as a graduate, ready for the world.
St Mary’s gown
Students of St Mary’s College are members of the Faculty of Divinity and, rather than the red gown, have the option to wear a knee-length black gown with short, open sleeves. The gown also has a violet cross of St Andrew on the left-facing sleeve.
Postgraduate gown
The University also offers a postgraduate gown of black cloth faced with burgundy. The postgraduate gown was introduced to provide better integration for students coming from Schools that didn’t offer their own gowns and to extend the academic dress beyond undergraduate level.
Students have the option of wearing their original undergraduate gown (including those of other universities), or they may choose the postgraduate gown.
The Gaudeamus
"Gaudeamus igitur" (Latin for "So let us rejoice") or just "Gaudeamus", is a popular academic song in many European countries, mainly sung or performed at university graduation ceremonies. Despite its use as a formal graduation hymn, it is a jocular, light-hearted composition that pokes fun at university life. The song is thought to originate in a Latin manuscript from 1287 and was known as a beer-drinking song in many early universities and is the official song of many schools, colleges, universities, institutions, student societies and is the official anthem of the International University Sports Federation.
At St Andrews, the song is now primarily used for the Opening Ceremony at the start of the academic journey and Graduation at its close. However, up until the middle of the 20th century, it was tradition within the student body to learn the entire song by heart before Raisin in their first year.
Lyrics
Below are the lyrics of an 18th century rendition of the song in the original Latin, alongside an anonymous literal English translation.
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English |
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1. Gaudeamus igitur,
Iuvenes dum sumus!
Post iucundam iuventutem
Post molestam senectutem
Nos habebit humus.
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So, let us rejoice
While we are young.
After a pleasant youth
After a troublesome old age
The earth will have us.
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2. Ubi sunt, qui ante nos
In mundo fuere,
Vadite ad superos,
Transite ad inferos,
Ubi iam fuere.
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Where are they who, before us,
Were in the world?
Go to the heavens
Cross over into hell
Where they went through already.
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3. Vita nostra brevis est,
Brevi finietur,
Venit mors velociter,
Rapit nos atrociter,
Nemini parcetur.
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Our life is brief
Soon it will end.
Death comes quickly
Snatches us cruelly
Nobody shall it be spared.
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4. Vivat Academia,
Vivant professores,
Vivat membrum quodlibet,
Vivant membra quaelibet,
Semper sint in flore!
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Long live the academy!
Long live the professors!
Long live each student;
Long live the whole fraternity;
For ever may they flourish!
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5. Vivant omnes virgines
Faciles, formosae
Vivant et mulieres
Tenerae, amabiles
Bonae, laboriosae.
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Long live all virgins,
Easy, beautiful!
Long live women too,
Tender, lovable,
Good hard-working.
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6. Vivat et respublica,
Et qui illam regit,
Vivat nostra civitas,
Maecenatum caritas,
Quae nos hic protegit.
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Long live the state as well
And he who rules it!
Long live our city,
The charity of benefactors
Which protects us here!
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7. Pereat tristitia,
Pereant osores,
Pereat diabolus,
Quivis Antiburschius,
Atque irrisores.
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May sadness perish!
May haters perish!
May the devil perish!
Whoever opposes the fraternities
And their mockers, too!
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