Buzz
Many items we consider commonplace today were once outlawed. These were prohibited, despite being largely innocuous. Frequently, the enforcers of these laws had hidden agendas beyond the official reasons for the bans.
The items on this list, which were once banned, include everything from sports to drinks and even holidays. The holiday in question is none other than Christmas. What makes this even more astonishing is that the ban was imposed by a Christian group.
10. Soccer
Soccer, known as football outside the U.S., has a tumultuous past in England and Scotland, where it faced multiple prohibitions. The first ban was enacted by Edward II of England on April 13, 1314, barring the sport in London. He claimed that soccer created disturbances and could result in undesirable outcomes.
In 1331, a subsequent prohibition was enacted by Edward III, further restricting football. By 1363, Edward III extended this ban to all sports, mandating that citizens focus on archery practice instead. Later monarchs, including Richard II, Henry IV, and Henry V, also imposed restrictions on football during their rules.
Although many bans were justified by the claim that football distracted people from archery practice, the kings' true motives were less about archery skills and more about control. Football was a pastime of the working class, lacking aristocratic participation, which likely fueled the monarchy's resentment and desire to suppress it.
9. Christmas
In 1659, the Puritans achieved the unthinkable by outlawing Christmas. Their rigid interpretation of Christianity led them to view all forms of celebration, including Christmas, as sinful. They also regarded Christmas as rooted in pagan traditions.
The initial ban on Christmas celebrations in England occurred in 1644, following the Puritans' rise to power in parliament. Inspired by this, the Puritans in New England implemented a similar prohibition. The ban extended beyond Christmas itself, outlawing Christmas trees, decorations, and traditional foods like mince pies.
To prevent any covert Christmas celebrations, authorities mandated that shops stay operational on Christmas Day. Town criers roamed the streets on Christmas Eve, announcing that the holiday was canceled the following day. The prohibition on Christmas lasted in England until 1660 and in New England until 1681.
8. Chess
Throughout history, chess has faced bans in regions like Persia, Egypt, Japan, and France. In modern times, it was prohibited in Afghanistan and remains banned in Saudi Arabia. The first recorded ban occurred in Persia in AD 644 after Muslim forces under Umar bin al-Khatta captured the city. Al-Khatta outlawed chess, fearing it might encourage gambling.
A few decades later, Emperor Jito of Japan imposed a ban on chess. In 1005, Egypt followed suit, and in 1061, Cardinal Damiani of Ostin barred clergy from playing the game. The Eastern Orthodox Church banned chess in 1195, and France did the same in 1254. King Louis IX criticized chess as "pointless" and "dull."
In 2001, the Taliban prohibited chess, arguing it distracted people from prayers and could promote gambling. Saudi Arabia enacted a similar ban in 2016, labeling the game a waste of time. These bans, imposed by various kingdoms, churches, and regimes, often relied on weak justifications, suggesting there may have been unspoken motives behind them.
The hidden motive behind these bans is believed to be religious. Games of chance often led people to attribute their wins or losses to a higher power controlling their fate. However, with strategic games like chess, individuals might realize their outcomes were a result of their own decisions. Leaders feared this realization could inspire people to question authority and apply similar logic to real-world situations.
7. Popcorn
During the silent film era, popcorn was prohibited in movie theaters. At the time, films were a luxury enjoyed mainly by the elite, who could read the on-screen captions. Theaters were lavishly decorated to appeal to this affluent audience, with expensive carpets and rugs covering the floors. To protect these furnishings, theater owners banned popcorn, which was a popular street snack at the time.
This policy shifted during the Great Depression, coinciding with the rise of sound films. With spoken dialogue replacing captions, movies became accessible to the less educated, drawing in lower-income audiences. These new patrons brought popcorn with them, as it was an affordable treat even during economic hardship.
Popcorn vendors quickly recognized the growing demand and began setting up near theaters. Theater owners initially charged vendors for the right to sell popcorn nearby but soon realized they could maximize profits by selling it themselves. This led to popcorn becoming a staple of the cinema experience.
6. Bowling
Bowling, like football, faced prohibitions under the rule of British kings. King Edward III, known for banning football, outlawed bowling in 1366, claiming it diverted attention from archery practice. Decades later, in 1477, King Edward IV imposed another ban on bowling and other sports, arguing they hindered people from improving their archery skills.
Even Henry VIII, an avid bowler, prohibited the sport. Similar to earlier monarchs, he targeted archers, accusing them of prioritizing bowling and other games over honing their archery abilities.
Henry's personal fondness for bowling likely prevented a complete ban. Instead, he introduced restrictive measures to limit the sport to the elite. For instance, owning a bowling green required a £100 tax, outdoor greens were prohibited, and all greens had to be indoors and reserved for private use.
5. Women Wearing Trousers
In 1800, the Paris police chief mandated that women obtain permission from police headquarters before donning men's attire. By 1892, the law was revised to permit women to wear trousers, provided they were holding horse reins at all times.
The law was updated again in 1909, allowing women to wear trousers while riding bicycles. However, if they dismounted, they were required to keep their hands on the handlebars. In 1969, the Paris city council requested the police chief to abolish the law, but he declined, arguing that fashion's unpredictability might make the law relevant again, despite it no longer being enforced.
Ironically, female police officers in Paris eventually adopted trousers as part of their uniforms. Efforts to repeal the law in 2003 were unsuccessful, with the gender equality minister stating that the ordinance, though unenforced, did not need modification. The law was finally abolished on January 31, 2013.
4. Women Owning Credit Cards
In the United States, women were not officially prohibited from owning credit cards, but they faced blatant discrimination and significant hurdles in obtaining them. Married women needed their husbands to co-sign their applications, while widows and single women were often required to find a male guarantor.
Women were also compelled to disclose their marital status and the number of children they had before being granted a credit card. Additionally, their income was halved to determine their spending limit. This discrimination persisted until 1974, when the Equal Credit Opportunity Act was enacted, prohibiting credit card issuers from discriminating based on gender, race, religion, or other factors.
3. Bikini
The bikini became a target of moral outrage shortly after its introduction in 1946, falling victim to campaigns against public indecency. Its creator, Louis Reard, nearly abandoned the project due to poor sales. The bikini faced bans in countries like France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Australia, and parts of the US. It was also excluded from Hollywood films for a period.
In 1953, Pedro Zaragoza, the mayor of Benidorm, permitted bikinis on the city’s beaches despite a nationwide ban in Spain. British tourists were bringing bikinis to the area, and Zaragoza recognized that allowing them was essential to transforming Benidorm into a tourist destination.
This decision led to conflicts between women and Civil Guard officers due to the contradictory law. Undeterred, Zaragoza embarked on an eight-hour scooter journey to Madrid to meet General Francisco Franco, Spain’s dictator. Arriving with oil-stained pants, he successfully persuaded Franco to allow bikinis, paving the way for their gradual acceptance in Spain.
2. Swimwear
Swimwear sparked a moral panic in the early 20th century. Prior to the 1900s, swimsuits were made of wool and covered the entire body, resembling everyday clothing. This changed in the 20th century when swimwear became sleeveless and more form-fitting, leading to widespread controversy.
To maintain public decency, cities and beaches enacted laws specifying minimum lengths for swimwear. One-piece swimsuits were completely prohibited. Numerous women faced arrests for wearing short bathing suits at popular beaches, including those in major cities like New York and Chicago.
In 1919, New York appointed 20 female sheriffs to monitor beaches and enforce swimwear regulations. By 1921, Hawaii revised its laws, permitting shorter swimsuits if covered by a longer garment. Women often used towels or raincoats to comply. Attitudes shifted in the 1930s, as governments began to accept shorter swimwear.
1. Coffee Shops
In 1675, King Charles II of England outlawed coffee shops. To prevent resourceful individuals from operating from home, he also prohibited the sale of coffee, tea, chocolate, and sherbet in private residences or shops.
The prohibition wasn’t about coffee itself. King Charles II feared that coffee shops could become hubs for plotting rebellions. These establishments were akin to modern-day bars, with London hosting around 3,000 of them. People frequented these spaces to socialize and debate political matters.
King Charles II, known for his distrust of others, always suspected plots against him. While he didn’t explicitly state this in his decree, he justified the ban by claiming coffee shops fostered laziness and disrupted public order. However, the ban was never enforced, as it was revoked just two days before it was set to take effect.
