Seven Christmas laws you didn't know existed including a law about Xmas crackers
Christmas is the most wonderful time of year, but it also comes with its own set of laws that you likely had no idea about.
Laws include rules surrounding going overboard with how you dress, selling a young person a Christmas cracker, and legality surrounding Christmas bonuses for employees. They'll likely leave you feeling baffled, and they can easily unexpectedly catch people out who are celebrating Christmas.
Lawyer Craig Anderson, from Top Rated Law, discussed the quirks in the legal system that can lead to people getting in trouble during Christmas, and how you can avoid getting into any sticky situations.
Driving in an over-the-top Christmas outfit
There's no such thing as going overboard for Xmas but apparently, there is when it comes to dressing up and driving in a party costume. That can result in a steep fine in the UK of up to £5,000, however, the law specifically focuses on items that are worn on your face and feet and tries to assess whether those items could interfere with your ability to drive safely on the road.
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Craig Anderson on behalf of Top Rated Law adds: "The UK's rule 97 of the Highway Code aims to ensure that drivers are not wearing any clothing items or footwear that could interfere with their driving. Wearing an elf or a Santa costume, for example, could make driving challenging. Aspects such as the costume's shoes could make it difficult to feel the pedals, while any hats could affect vision, so drivers should be mindful of their outfit choice."
No debt to be paid off on Christmas Day
In the US, paying your debt off on Christmas Day is a crime. The law for this came into place in 1838 in Arkansas and specifies that debts should be paid before or after Christmas Day and not on the day.
Craig Anderson said: "Christmas is one of the most expensive times of the year, however, this law interestingly gives those in debt a day off from having to settle it and deprives those who are owed a debt of one day's interest."
Christmas crackers can't be sold to children
In 2013, the UK made it illegal to sell Christmas crackers to children under 12 years old. When the law was originally drafted and introduced the age limit for it was 16 but it was then revised by the government. The regulation says that economic operators are prohibited from making "a pyrotechnic article available on the market" to anyone under the age of 12.
Craig said: "The law which prohibits the sale of Christmas crackers to children under 12 is called the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015. Whilst it may not seem obvious, Christmas crackers are included in the regulation, because the popping sounds they make are considered to be a result of a small amount of pyrotechnics."
You have to have a Christmas bonus
Mexicans take Christmas quite seriously because if you live there you are legally entitled to a Christmas bonus each year. The amount you are paid is based on your salary but the payment must be made to the employee by December 20.
Employers who try to wiggle their way out of paying or don't pay altogether could face a fine that is 5,000 times the amount that the employee was due to be paid.
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Craig added: "Mexico's Christmas bonus law is referred to as 'aguinaldo' and was introduced in 1970. According to the law, an employee's Christmas bonus needs to amount to at least 15 days worth of wages. Costa Rica also requires the payment of such bonuses."
There's a cut-off date for when you can have your Christmas lights on until
In San Diego, you can't keep your Christmas lights on all year round, there is a very lenient cut-off date into the new year which all residents have to stick to or they can be fined. The date for everyone to take down their Christmas lights is the 2nd of February, the fine for those who don't stick to this deadline can be $250 (£197).
Craig said: "Keeping your Christmas lights on inside your home for however long you want is naturally no issue at all, but leaving them on outside your home for a long period might cause conflicts with neighbours, as well as landing you with a pretty hefty fine."
Snow slides are illegal
Did you live up a hill and have you ever taken advantage of the snow we get in London? Well, you could be breaking the law whilst sliding down that road in the snow. A law introduced in 1839 states that those found sliding on snow or ice and making the city's streets into a slide could risk getting a £500 fine.
Craig said: "This winter law is part of the Metropolitan police act of 1989. It states that Londoners aren't allowed to slide "upon ice or snow in any street or other thoroughfare." The reason for that is that you could potentially put other people in danger by doing so.
Real trees are a crime
In both New York and Philadelphia real Christmas trees are not allowed. In New York trees are prohibited in retail stores and Philidelphia they aren't allowed in high-rise or multi-unit buildings. The law states that real Christmas trees can only be permitted in areas where only one or two families live.
Craig added: "Philadelphia's Official fire code from 1982 prohibits natural Christmas trees in some buildings. The law was enforced as those trees are considered to be a fire hazard. A $300 (£236) fine awaits you if you're found to have such a tree when you shouldn't."
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