A strange English law.
@Jackalyn (7559)
Oxford, England
November 24, 2016 5:02am CST
Did you know it is illegal to die in the houses in the Houses of Parliament in the UK? This is because if you do so you are entitled to a state funeral and the government does not want the expense.
What I would like to know is what they would do about it? I mean if I suddenly dropped dead viewing them it would be hard for me to stop myself! What would they charge you with? How could they do it?
I suppose it means that because you broke the law you cannot therefore be eligible for a state funeral?
You also cannot eat a mute swan as it belongs to the queen. What is a mute swan?
11 people like this
8 responses
@catsholiday (460)
• Derby, England
30 Nov 17
Only young, healthy folk allowed to live there then!!
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
24 Nov 16
Actually, the Fellows of St John's College, Cambridge are allowed to eat swan once a year (and they do).
The Queen doesn't own all the swans. The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths is allowed to own all the swans it can catch at the annual ceremony of Swan Upping. Any swan without a nick in it's beak, I believe, is said to be owned by the Crown.
2 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
30 Nov 17
@catsholiday Goose is a rather dark and rich meat, especially the legs. Before turkey became popular, goose was the traditional Christmas bird (I think that Scrooge buys one for the Cratchit family in Dickens' "Christmas Carol") and I've seen many pictures of Victorian butchers' shops with the front almost completely obscured by plucked and drawn geese (and other birds) hanging in the open air and subject to all the smoke and dust of the city street!
@catsholiday (460)
• Derby, England
30 Nov 17
Not sure I would want to eat a swan anyway. I tried goose and it was really dark, strong and not that nice
1 person likes this
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
25 Nov 16
Mute swans are a big problem here in some of North America. They're very aggressive for such a beautiful bird.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111124)
• El Paso, Texas
23 Jul 20
I've heard that geese can be aggressive but I didn't know swans could be too.
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
24 Nov 16
I have some questions which you can hopefully answer:
Re 6) What is the opposite of a 'mute' swan? Can ordinary people eat swans which produce some kind of noise?
Re 9) What is meant with 'operate'? The activity of a surgeon? Or making the cow function one way or the other?
1 person likes this
@Jackalyn (7559)
• Oxford, England
24 Nov 16
operate means to handle or use for work.
The swan questions and cow will have to go to another post as I had to edit this one. Owlwings will write it as I have to get on now.!
@Jackalyn (7559)
• Oxford, England
25 Nov 16
Aw, they repealed it? I was thinking of doing a post on that one next, Mind you this is good news for Scotsmen who happen to be in York with their bow and arrows.
@Jackalyn (7559)
• Oxford, England
25 Nov 16
@5thHouse I don't think that is right about the TV. I had one without a licence because it was also a video player and we did not need a licence as long as it was not used as a T,V. Now I have no TV and they are always writing to see if I got one. I just did not watch enough BBC to justify the expense for watching iplayer on my phone.
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
24 Nov 16
I love reading all the strange laws of different countries. It is funny to see that they haven't changed them over the years either. They still stand true today even though most of them are not enforced. lol
@catsholiday (460)
• Derby, England
30 Nov 17
A mute swan is not a quiet swan but a breed of swan as you probably know!! There are all kinds of weird laws still existing in the UK as it is more trouble to revoke them mainly as people no longer make use of them. "It is illegal to beat or shake any carpet rug or mat in any street in the Metropolitan Police District, although you are allowed to shake a doormat before 8am." I must remember that one!!
