6 astonishing German law paragraphs
Funny ex officio

In Germany, everything is clearly regulated – really everything. There are even rules about how you are allowed to walk on a bridge. Here are some of the most curious laws that can be found in German law books.

Beekeepers and their swarm

Everyone is equal before the law – but beekeepers enjoy an exception. While trespassing on other people's property is generally prohibited, the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, BGB) allows beekeepers an exception if they go on a “chase”. This means that if a swarm of bees breaks out and settles on someone else's property, the beekeeper may enter the property to recapture his buzzing friends. This special rule is very important for beekeepers. The German Civil Code stipulates that they lose their title to the swarm if they do not pursue it immediately.

Picking mushrooms by moonlight prohibited

Picking mushrooms in the forest: it sounds like a harmless hobby, but it harbours a number of pitfalls. In addition to poisonous mushrooms, there are additional legal restrictions. Although anyone is allowed to pick mushrooms for their own use, anyone who puts for example truffles in their basket is in breach of the Federal Nature Conservation Act. It is also strictly forbidden to go into the forest at night. This is to protect nocturnal wild animals. But it doesn't matter: the best time to pick mushrooms is early in the morning anyway, because mushrooms grow during the night and are waiting to be discovered when daylight comes.

Woe to anyone who swings their hips

In Germany, as elsewhere, people like to get up and dance – but it's not always allowed. On so-called public holidays, such as Good Friday, All Saints' Day or Sunday of the Dead, dancing is prohibited. Each federal state can set its own rules. In Bavaria, for example, sports and music events are prohibited on these days. If someone breaks the rules, they will be fined 10,000 euros. Private parties are generally permitted, but must not be too loud. Incidentally, a ban also applies to certain films that may not be shown in cinemas on these days. For example, the satirical film The Life of Brian is on this list of banned films.

The lawnmower is silent on Sundays

This news could be a damper for garden owners: Anyone who works during the week and reserves the weekend for garden maintenance will come up against legal hurdles. The Federal Immission Control Act prohibits the use of motorised equipment on Sundays. The law also stipulates usage times for certain machines. For example, leaf blowers may only be used from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 5 pm. To make things even more complicated:  Each local authority can set its own rest periods.

It's better to cross bridges individually

Section 27 (6) of the Highway Code contains a surprising rule: People are not allowed to march in unison on bridges. The background to this curious regulation is the so-called resonance catastrophe of 1831, when 74 British soldiers marched across a bridge and caused it to vibrate so much that it collapsed. Whether the ban applies to just two people remains to be seen – but it is certainly safer not to march in step!

Keep your eyes open when choosing a partner

There is hope for some unhappily married couples. According to the German Civil Code, a marriage is considered invalid if one of the partners was unconscious during the marriage or did not know that the event they were attending was a wedding. In such a case, the marriage can be dissolved – unless there is a will to continue it. Incidentally, the will is deemed to have been expressed if you sleep with your spouse.