As wildfires ravage Arthur’s Seat, the iconic hill that overlooks Edinburgh, one hopes and prays that in September, instead of flames climbing the paths, freshers will be seen trudging up with the weight of myth and superstition on their backs. Rumours surrounding the hill are ubiquitous for the Edinburgh student, yet no one seems to know where they come from, or if there is any truth to any of them. This doesn’t seem to stop students following them anyway, just in case.
The vague claim that any student who fails to climb Arthur’s Seat in freshers’ week will inevitably fail their exams haunted me as I watched new Instagram contacts post pictures at the summit. As I was not confined to bed with freshers’ flu, I crumbled under the weight of superstition myself and made the journey to the summit.
However, the myths don’t stop there. One must climb this extinct volcano an odd number of times, especially during the first week. The creators of the myth, whoever they are, have been very considerate to those of us who are not professional rock climbers. To secure sound grades you only need to scramble up the hill once.
But are the sore quads worth it for good grades? Is there any more at stake?
Well, if you headed to Edinburgh with intentions of a One Day-esque experience or of dates frolicking in the Meadows, a climb up Arthur’s Seat during freshers’ week is a must.
Otherwise, as the rumours go, your next successful, fulfilling, and all-round good kiss, hand-hold, and further advancements, will be delayed seven years.
As someone who came to Edinburgh with no previous contacts, completing this tradition raises another question: with who? Of course, a solo hike is always a viable option, but if you are going with some flatmates or newly found friends, what makes a better bonding experience than slowly ascending an ancient hill short of breath, out of a fear of a life of underperformance, academic or otherwise?
Formed around 350 million years ago during the carboniferous period, the very name of this Edinburgh celebrity is steeped in ambiguity. The hill is one of the many sites tentatively associated with the legendary home of King Arthur of Camelot. Alternatively, the 18th century writer William Maitland in his book The History of Edinburgh suggests that the Gaelic name ‘Àrd-na-saighead’, or ‘height of arrows’ in English, has gradually morphed into the name ‘Arthur’s Seat’ over time.
Before university students were trying to achieve good grades or sparkle between the sheets, there were ancient pagan rituals concerning the grand hill. On 1 May, it is believed that young maidens would climb Arthur’s Seat to wash their faces in the morning dew as the sun rose over the peak in order to obtain eternal youth. Which sounds refreshing and peaceful, especially in comparison to the droplets of sweat and laboured breaths of tired freshers.
While twisting your ankles on the rocky paths, you may want to watch out for scales or spikes of a sleeping dragon. According to Celtic legend, a dragon that terrorised the people and gobbled up their livestock overindulged so much that, one day, it lay down and fell asleep and has never woken up. Thus forming the hill we know today as Arthur’s Seat. Fear of this sleeping dragon may provide an excuse not to complete the climb during freshers’ week for less superstitious students.
Whether you believe these myths, or think they have simply been immortalized by whispering family, friends, or mischievous fourth years, the rituals of Arthur’s Seat remain a core part of the experience at the University of Edinburgh. If you need some fresh air to quell that hangover, want a cloudy, panoramic view of the city or, most importantly, want to ensure the success of your degree (and sex life) Arthur’s Seat is the place to be.
Photo by Mike Newbry on Unsplash
