Back in the 1800's, police in the UK banned a lot of traditional customs (Straw Bears, Plough Jacking etc) as a form of begging.
(listen to Rattlebone & Ploughjack album)

The new licencing laws in UK (from next year? - see PEL threads) will probably make it (even more?) illegal.

They had to specifically exempt Morris dancers, and last I heard there was still a problem for circuses.