Hello and welcome to my podcast My Life and Other Funny Stories. My name is Dagmar Tomášková, I am an English tutor and coach and I created this podcast for English students who want to improve their oral comprehension. As always you can find the transcription of this episode and vocabulary list in the notes of the podcast. 

Today, we’re diving into something weird – I’m talking about some of the weirdest laws you’ll find in the English-speaking world. These are the kinds of rules that make you go, “Wait, is that for real?” But trust me, they are very real, and they have some pretty interesting backstories. So, let’s get started!

No. 1: No Donkeys in Bathtubs

First, let’s travel to Arizona, where it is illegal for a donkey to sleep in a bathtub. I know, I know, who’s letting donkeys sleep in bathtubs in the first place, right? Well, this strange law dates all the way back to the 1920s. The story goes like this: a rancher – someone who owns a ranch – which is something like a farm-  had a donkey that loved to sleep in an old bathtub on his property. Nothing harmful, am I right?—until one day, a dam broke – a dam is a wall built across a river to stop the flow and collect the water, and the town was flooded. The water washed the bathtub, with the poor donkey inside, down into a valley. The people in the town had to put in a lot of effort and resources to rescue the donkey, and they weren’t too happy about it. So, to prevent any future bathtub-donkey-rescue missions, the state decided to make it illegal for donkeys to sleep in bathtubs. Because, you know, once is enough!

No. 2: No Selling Children

Surprise, surprise, we are visiting Florida now, because of course at least one of those laws would be from there… In Florida, there’s a law that says you cannot sell your children. Now, this is one of those laws that makes you wonder why it had to be written down in the first place. You’d think this would be common sense, but apparently, someone at some point needed a little reminder that selling children is a no-go. This law is a classic example of what’s known as a “morality law,”.  The origins of this law date back to a time when child labor was a serious issue – child labor means that children were allowed to work as employees, and families in desperate situations might have felt forced to do terrible things such as selling their children to someone else basically as slaves. Thankfully, we have this law to make it crystal clear that children are not up for sale.

No.3: No Knocking on Doors and Running Away

Let’s jump across the big pond we call the Atlantic Ocean and see a little bit of the U.K., where the old childhood prank of “knock, knock,” and then running away is actually illegal. Now, I don’t know if you have done it in your childhood but it has been popular in the Czech Republic as well for sure.  It’s the kind of prank that kids have been pulling for generations, but in the U.K., it can bring you big trouble. The law that makes this illegal is part of the bigger legislation against “trespassing with intent to cause alarm.” The idea here is to protect people from feeling harassed or scared in their own homes. So, if you’re in the U.K. and feeling mischievous, maybe just leave out knocking or ringing on someone’s door and then running away.

No. 4: It’s Illegal to Disrupt a Wedding

Now, let’s travel to South Australia, where it is illegal to disrupt a wedding. To disrupt something means to make something difficult to continue in the normal way. Picture this: you’re at a wedding, the couple is at the altar, and the officiant says, “If anyone objects to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace.” It’s a dramatic moment, and if you’re thinking of standing up to object, think again—because in South Australia, you could get a fine of up to $10,000 for this. This law was put in place to maintain the peaceful progress of the ceremony and to prevent any unnecessary drama. After all, weddings are stressful enough without someone shouting that they don’t agree. So, if you’re attending a wedding in South Australia, maybe keep your opinions to yourself.

No.5: No Painting Wooden Ladders

Next, let’s go back to the American continent, specifically to Canada, where there’s a law that says it’s illegal to paint a wooden ladder. If you don’t know what a ladder is, it is a piece of equipment for climbing up and down a wall. Now, you might be thinking, “What’s the problem with painting a ladder?” But this law actually has a pretty practical origin. The idea is that painting a wooden ladder could cover up cracks, rot, or other signs of age that could make the ladder unsafe to use. By banning the painting of wooden ladders, the law is supposed to ensure that anyone using the ladder can clearly see any potential hazards and risks. Interesting, right?

No.6: It’s Illegal to Swear in French in a Public Place

And while in Canada, let’s take a trip to Quebec- the French province of the country. There it is illegal to swear in French in a public place. To swear means to say not very polite words, I won’t mention any examples but I hope you get the idea. This law is part of Quebec’s efforts to preserve the French language and culture. Quebec is known for its strict language laws, and this one is no exception. The idea behind this law is to maintain a certain level of respect in public spaces. So no French swearing in Quebec! 

And that is all I have for you today—some of the weirdest laws from across the English-speaking world. It’s amazing how laws like these come into existence, often as a response to some unusual event or to protect people in ways you’d never think of. 

Thank you so much for listening to this episode and if you didn’t understand anything, don’t worry, you can check out the transcription, it is all there. Please give it a five-star rating if you liked it and I will see you next time, bye-bye.