Monday 25, March
Why dancing is officially banned in Berlin this Friday
Living in Berlin, it’s easy to forget how Christian of a country Germany really is, but certain strange habits are there to remind you: the shops being closed on Sundays, the large number of extra bank holidays enjoyed by the Catholics in the south and… a dancing ban on Good Friday?
It sounds strange, but it’s true. Dance events are officially forbidden this Friday, and you aren’t allowed to put on musical events of any kind if they take place where drinks are served. That’s not all, public sporting events are also banned if they’re accompanied by music orother entertainment. The restriction only applies from 04:00 to 21:00 on Good Friday. So, if you’re planning on heading out for a clubnacht, you might not even notice.
The origin of the law comes from the origins of Easter itself. We’re celebrating the death (and on Monday, the rebirth) of Jesus Christ, so it’s not meant to be a cheerful day. Good Friday isn’t the only day with a Tanzverbot either – it also applies to the day of national mourning (which will come on Sunday, November 17, 2024) and again on the Sunday of the Dead (November 24, 2024).
