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MAY DAY MAYHEM

St Andrews University students skinny dip in the sea as May Day celebrations see boozy Oxford students strip off and party till dawn in raucous ritual

Revellers have been taking part in the ancient traditions

STUDENTS stripped off and ran into the freezing sea at raucous all-night May Day celebrations.

Hundreds of revellers in St Andrews, Scotland, ditched their clothes and bravely jumped into the bitterly cold North Sea.

Cheeky students strip off and run into the sea during all-night celebrations at St Andrews
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Cheeky students strip off and run into the sea during all-night celebrations at St AndrewsCredit: Alamy
Three girls give a smile despite braving the freezing waters
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Three girls give a smile despite braving the freezing watersCredit: Alamy
Revellers were clearly enjoying themselves as they splashed about in the waves in St Andrews
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Revellers were clearly enjoying themselves as they splashed about in the waves in St AndrewsCredit: Alamy
Students believe the nippy ritual brings them good luck in their studies
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Students believe the nippy ritual brings them good luck in their studiesCredit: Alamy
Brave students bared all as they ran into the waves in the Scottish university town
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Brave students bared all as they ran into the waves in the Scottish university townCredit: Alamy
In Oxford, one student bares his chest while his friends' dinner jackets are still intact
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In Oxford, one student bares his chest while his friends' dinner jackets are still intactCredit: London News Pictures

The St Andrews skinny dip - known as the May Dip - isn't just for fun.
The annual ritual is believed to bring students good luck in their exams.

May Day celebrations have been taking place across Britain today as thousands take part in may pole dances.

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Revellers in dinner jackets and ballgowns filled the streets of Oxford to party until dawn in the city's annual ritual.

Thousands flocked to Magdalen College, Oxford, to hear the choir sing hymns as the sun rose at 6am.

Morris dancers and entertainers filled the streets this morning as the all-night celebrations continued.

Revellers enjoy the three-hour early morning festivities to mark May Day
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Revellers enjoy the three-hour early morning festivities to mark May DayCredit: Reuters
A woman waves across the crowd during Oxford's May Day
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A woman waves across the crowd during Oxford's May DayCredit: Reuters
A man in braces looks to be in high spirits amid dawn celebrations in Oxford
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A man in braces looks to be in high spirits amid dawn celebrations in OxfordCredit: Reuters
Revellers in their dinner jackets look worse for wear as they wait for the sunrise in Oxford
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Revellers in their dinner jackets look worse for wear as they wait for the sunrise in OxfordCredit: Reuters
A trio don their swimsuits to take part in the raucous ritual in St Andrews
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A trio don their swimsuits to take part in the raucous ritual in St AndrewsCredit: Alamy
Some brave dippers bared all as they ran into the freezing water in the Scottish university town
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Some brave dippers bared all as they ran into the freezing water in the Scottish university town
A weary reveller is given a much-needed piggy back by a pal as they continue the celebrations in Oxford
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A weary reveller is given a much-needed piggy back by a pal as they continue the celebrations in OxfordCredit: London News Pictures
A dishevelled reveller looks in good spirits as the partying continues into the morning in Oxford
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A dishevelled reveller looks in good spirits as the partying continues into the morning in OxfordCredit: London News Pictures
In past years Oxford students jumped into the river on May Day, but it was stopped after dozens were injured in 2005
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In past years Oxford students jumped into the river on May Day, but it was stopped after dozens were injured in 2005Credit: PA:Press Association Archive
A group of girls and a male friend jump for joy during celebrations at St Andrews
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A group of girls and a male friend jump for joy during celebrations at St AndrewsCredit: Alamy
A man holds his shirt as he wears just a dinner jacket after stripping off in Oxford
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A man holds his shirt as he wears just a dinner jacket after stripping off in OxfordCredit: London News Pictures

May Day tradition sees students strip off and jump into the River Cherwell.

But the practice was stopped in 2005 after 40 students injured themselves jumping into 2ft of water.

The traditions date back 500 years and is attended by more than 25,000 people, who either get up at the crack of join to take part or stay up all night.

May Day has long been celebrated in Britain and dates back to the traditional pagan festival Beltane.

Worshippers flocked to Glastonbury, Somerset, to celebrate the event with ancient customs such as dancing round a May pole.

A girl in a shirt and trainers dancers amid wild celebrations in Oxford
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A girl in a shirt and trainers dancers amid wild celebrations in OxfordCredit: London News Pictures
A man gives his friend a piggy back as they walk to this morning's May Day celebrations in Oxford
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A man gives his friend a piggy back as they walk to this morning's May Day celebrations in OxfordCredit: London News Pictures
Two friends celebrate after completing the May Dip in St Andrews, fabled to bring good luck in exams
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Two friends celebrate after completing the May Dip in St Andrews, fabled to bring good luck in examsCredit: Alamy
Another pair of students look pretty cold as they take part in the mass skinny dip
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Another pair of students look pretty cold as they take part in the mass skinny dipCredit: Alamy
Two girls are still smiling after dunking themselves in the freezing North Sea
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Two girls are still smiling after dunking themselves in the freezing North SeaCredit: Alamy
A rowdy group of friends continue the festivities in the streets of Oxford at dawn
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A rowdy group of friends continue the festivities in the streets of Oxford at dawnCredit: London News Pictures
Party-goers cling to much-needed coffee as they power through to this morning's May Day celebrations
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Party-goers cling to much-needed coffee as they power through to this morning's May Day celebrationsCredit: London News Pictures
A reveller looks up to the sky as she waits for the sunrise during Oxford's May Day celebrations
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A reveller looks up to the sky as she waits for the sunrise during Oxford's May Day celebrationsCredit: London News Pictures
Morris dancers entertain the sleepy crowds as the sun rises above Oxford
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Morris dancers entertain the sleepy crowds as the sun rises above OxfordCredit: Alamy
A man blows smoke into the air as thousands gathered to welcome May
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A man blows smoke into the air as thousands gathered to welcome MayCredit: Reuters
A woman and baby wearing hawthorn sprigs on their hats join in the festivities in Oxford
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A woman and baby wearing hawthorn sprigs on their hats join in the festivities in OxfordCredit: Alamy
Dancers parade through historic Oxford's streets as thousands watch on
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Dancers parade through historic Oxford's streets as thousands watch onCredit: Alamy
A group of musicians playing traditional instruments and adorned in green entertain crowds in Oxford
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A group of musicians playing traditional instruments and adorned in green entertain crowds in OxfordCredit: Alamy
Dancers wearing all white with bells on their ankles perform for revellers outside Oxford's Hertford College
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Dancers wearing all white with bells on their ankles perform for revellers outside Oxford's Hertford CollegeCredit: Alamy
Two performers channel nature with flowers in their hair and painted on their cheeks
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 Two performers channel nature with flowers in their hair and painted on their cheeksCredit: Alamy
Three girls wrap up warm and carry a home-made sign welcoming the start of summer in Oxford
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Three girls wrap up warm and carry a home-made sign welcoming the start of summer in OxfordCredit: Alamy
Revellers take part in a traditional May pole dance at Chalice Well, Glastonbury
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Revellers take part in a traditional May pole dance at Chalice Well, GlastonburyCredit: PA:Press Association
People in fancy dress in Glastonbury celebrate the pagan festival of Beltane
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People in fancy dress in Glastonbury celebrate the pagan festival of BeltaneCredit: PA:Press Association
Dancers enjoy the sunshine at Chalice Well, Glastonbury
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Dancers enjoy the sunshine at Chalice Well, GlastonburyCredit: PA:Press Association
A man in fancy dress takes part in celebrations in Glastonbury
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A man in fancy dress takes part in celebrations in GlastonburyCredit: PA:Press Association
A woman wears a flower headdress during May Day celebrations in Glastonbury
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A woman wears a flower headdress during May Day celebrations in GlastonburyCredit: PA:Press Association

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