The Swiss have guns; the Brits had bows and arrows.
The Unlawful Games Act 1541 required males to own bows and arrows – 2 for boys under 17, 4 for everyone older – and only archery practice would be allowed on Christmas Day. Archery was important militarily and people were trending towards immoral games like cricket, card playing, gambling.
One analysis concludes that the act further divided the classes, as nobles and upper classes were exempted and could in fact use immoral games to display hospitality whereas members of the working class were dictated what they could or could not do during their limited recreational time. While the article does agree that archery was very important, it also infringed on the freedoms individuals supposedly had.
The impact of the act was lessened by other parliamentary acts, starting in the 18th Century, and was completely repealed in 1960. Wikipedia does notes that Christmas Day football matches prior to 1960 were technically illegal based on this act, but I doubt anyone noticed or cared.
[And if anyone is wondering, the oldest English legislation still intact and in effect is the 1267 Statute of Marlborough, in particular the Distress Act and Waste Act, though more recent legislation may make the act itself moot.]
