Leg up for women

Women weren't legally allowed to wear pants until recently in Paris. The law was never enforced in modern times but early this week, it was officially abrogated on grounds of being "incompatible with the principles of equality between women and men. " The rule dated back to the time of the French Revolution.

Throw the mistletoe

In Maine, you could be fined for keeping Christmas decorations after January 14. Another law in the American state makes it illegal to step out of an aeroplane when it is flying. A decidedly archaic law makes it compulsory to carry a shotgun to church to protect oneself against Native Americans.

Target practice

An ancient law makes it legal for an Englishman to shoot a Welsh with a longbow on Sundays in the county town of Hereford. Another old English law says a Welsh person can be shot with a bow and arrow inside the city walls of Chester after midnight.

Vested interest

It is illegal to wear a bulletproof vest while committing a murder in New Jersey. According to a statute, a person has committed a crime if "he uses or wears a body vest while engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to commit murder, manslaughter, robbery, sexual assault, burglary, kidnapping, criminal escape or assault. "

Hands-on policy

In Gainesville, Georgia it is illegal to consume fried chicken any other way than by hand - a law enacted in 1961 to promote Gainesville as a poultry town. In July 2009, a 91-year-old woman was arrested for consuming fried chicken with a fork and pardoned soon after by the mayor in an act of jest.

False step

If you're in Thailand, stepping on a baht could land you in trouble. Currency notes in the country have pictures of its king printed on them, and the monarchy is revered by the people. Stepping on money is deemed to be the same as stepping on the king's face, and could invite punishment.

Heeling touch

Greece has banned women in stilettos around its ancient monuments. The logic goes like this: The pressure a stiletto heel exerts on the ground is much greater than that of a walking elephant. Hence a law that prohibits shoes that "wound the monuments".

Bale or jail

Taxis must carry a bale of hay in the trunk at all times in Australia, a law possibly dating back to the time of horse-drawn carriages so that the horses did not go hungry. The law hasn't been struck down although motor cars have replaced buggies.