Germany can appear relatively laissez-faire compared to other countries. It's still possible to smoke in some bars and sunbathe nude in public parks, while 16-year-olds can legally drink beer or wine — the age limit is 21 in the United States.

But Germany is also heavily regulated — especially on Sundays and public holidays.

From dancing bans to sandcastle building edicts and enforced silence on public holidays, the German rule book is also full of quirky, often outdated laws.

In most of Germany's 16 states, Good Friday is regarded as a "silent public holiday" where, since the middle ages, dancing has been forbidden. The capital Berlin has a relatively liberal approach to the dancing ban, or "Tanzverbot," which only happens from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Good Friday. But in the southern, largely-Catholic state of Bavaria, the prohibition runs for 70 hours from Maudy Thursday till Saturday. Penalties for those who violate the law can be as high as €10,000 ($11,600).

Many other noisy activities are forbidden on this day of silence and

© Deutsche Welle