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Easter holiday 'dance ban' curbs clubbers

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Easter holiday 'dance ban' curbs clubbers
Photo: DPA

Party-goers in the more conservative bits of Germany will be hanging up their disco pants as an Easter “dance ban” comes into force starting Thursday evening.

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The killjoy tradition shuts down nightclubs and bars, as well as some sporting events, through Saturday.

It is up to the states to decide how long to enforce the “dance ban,” so in some conservative regions like Bavaria where Christianity is more prominent, the fun stops for almost four days.

Those lucky enough to be in Berlin will ostensibly only have to sit down quietly on Friday between 4am and 9pm. Other city-states like Hamburg and Bremen will also have shorter restrictions.

Unsurprisingly, criticism of the ban has been gaining strength as adherence to Christianity in Germany has waned over the years, with opponents calling it outdated.

“It is an antiquated relic of times past that does not fit with the expectations or wants of citizens,” said Stephan Büttner, head of the federal association of disco and dancehall operators (BDT).

He complained that the laws differed so widely between states and said that dedicated revellers often travel over state borders to get to a party. This meant a higher risk of drink driving accidents when night was over.

If the weather is warm over Easter, people are known to take to the country's parks and squares for a booze up. This meant a lot of noise and disorderly behaviour outdoors.

Church representatives and conservative politicians are sticking to their guns, and have re-iterated that they believed it was important for society to have a little peace and quiet – regardless of religion.

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