As you might expect for Europe's powerhouse economy, commerce is king in Germany. Except, that is, on Sundays, when the nation's storesare definitively shuttered.
Long before pandemic lockdowns forced closures every day, Sunday was already a sacred day of rest for German retailers and consumers. Over the years, many non-Germans have found that out to their surprise and disappointment.
It's all because of the Ladenschlussgesetz or "Shop Closing Law." A federal German law in place since 1956, it bans retail stores of all kinds from opening their doors on Sundays and public holidays, along with some other restrictions.
While individual states were given more leeway to make their own rules in 2006, Sunday shopping remains largely a no-go throughout the country. There are however a few designated Sunday shopping days each year and very limited exceptions for certain shops.
The power of the church
Calls for a loosening of the law crop up occasionally. But according to Gerrit Heinemann, professor for retail and trade at Niederrhein University for Applied Sciences, there are three reasons why he believes things will not change anytime soon: the resistance of the Catholic and ProtestantChurches, the influence of trade unions and works councils and finally, the opposition of city parliaments.
The two churches' influence as lobby groups is particularly strong he believes. "It is just a very important opinion when the church says no. Especially when the main political party has the word 'Christian' in its name," he told DW.
Beyond religious reasons, many associate Sundays as a time for family, and cultural opposition to Sunday opening is particularly strong. Michael Lind, the managing director of three Nahkauf (Rewe) supermarket franchises in Berlin, told DW that it wasgood for his employees to have their Sundays free.
"Sunday is still a day where you do a little something with the family," he says. "If you are now open every day, well, say the husband of a worker is a painter and he has Sundays off but his wife is a saleswoman and now she has to work on Sundays, then family life is disrupted."
But he agrees that were the law to allow Sunday opening, the culture would gradually adjust. Working in retail since 1997, he can remember how the Ladenschlussgesetz evolved to where it is today.
"When I started trading over 20 years ago, we closed at 3 p.m. on Saturdays," he said at his store on Kiehluferin Berlin's Neukölln district.
"We broke up at 6 p.m.during the week. And when I started in 1997, we had a special 'long Thursday' until 8.30 p.m. or so. And then there was also a lot of moaning that it was open for so long. But over time it has stretched out and out, you have to say that. So accordingly, it (Sunday opening) would also work out."
Financial reasons to open
If the law were changed and if cultural and religious reasons were set aside, would it make sense financially for German retailers to open their doors on Sundays?
The German Retail Federation (HDE), a lobby group for the retail industry, thinks so. "Retailers do not aim at general Sunday openings but need the Ladenschlussgesetz to become more flexible. It is vital for our city centers and the retail industry as a whole to be able to open their shops on Sundays at times," it told DW in a statement.
It believes that, post-pandemic, allowing storesto open on Sundays would provide an avenue toward the rejuvenation of depleted city centers. "This way shopping becomes an event and part of family trips. And it is herein thatthe future of our city centers lies."
But Heinemann is doubtful. He believes the pandemic has prompted a fundamental, longer-term shift away from brick-and-mortar retailers and that there is limited evidence that Sunday opening would be worth it.
The online problem
Michael Lindhasn't seen much evidence that Sunday opening would be lucrative in the groceries business, based on the few Sundays per year his shops are allowed to open. But he believes it would be valuable for retailers in fashion, furniture and electrical goods, due to the growing pressure they face from online competitors.
"This is already a problem for many companies," he said. "And you shouldn't forget that bricks-and-mortar retailers pay their taxes here, but many online retailers only send goods and don't pay their taxes in this city."
But even though he doesn't see Sunday opening as essential for his trade, if it was one day allowed in Germany, he would have no choice but to embrace it fully.
"Competition would force you to do so. Because otherwise I will lose customers. So if Sunday is ever open, then as a rule I think 90%of all markets will be open."
Breaking a 1,700-year habit
It's unlikely to be any time soon. A recent proposal by the government in the Bavarian city of Regensburg to allow for just two additional Sunday opening days for shops in the city to help retailers recover from lockdowns quickly ran into difficulty.
Questions were raised over its legality, while there was also swift opposition from a group called The Alliance for Free Sundays (Allianz für den freien Sonntag), a pressure group backed by religious associationsand trade unions aimed at preserving Sunday's status.
The Alliance recently celebrated an apparent 1,700-year anniversary of "free Sundays," dating back to a decree by Constantine the Great in the year 321. "Sunday is not a day for shopping and toiling. It belongs to the family, faith, culture, sport, socializing and recreation. And it should stay that way!" the group says on its website.
FAQs
Is Germany open on Sundays? ›
Other than shops in gas stations, train stations or airports, most shops are usually closed on Sundays. All that is open are restaurants, museums and transportation centers. This is due to the Ladenschlussgesetz or "Store-closing law," which forbid stores from operating on Sundays.
Are Sundays off in Germany? ›Sunday working
Working on Sundays or public holidays is generally prohibited, with a few exceptions. If an employee does work, the employer must compensate the employee with corresponding time off within the following two weeks for working on Sunday or eight weeks for working during a public holiday.
It's all because of the Ladenschlussgesetz or "Shop Closing Law." A federal German law in place since 1956, it bans retail stores of all kinds from opening their doors on Sundays and public holidays, along with some other restrictions.
On which day are the shops closed in Germany? ›So it appears that the culture shock for many non-Germans of shops being closed on Sundays won't change anytime soon.
Can you make noise on a Sunday Germany? ›The commonly agreed upon quiet hours in Germany (Ruhezeit time period) are from 10pm and 6 or 7am on weekdays and the entire day on Sundays, although there can be some exceptions in different cities or if your landlord imposes other rules as well. Ruhezeit also applies to all public holidays for the entire day.
Do trains run on Sunday in Germany? ›Do trains run on Sunday in Germany? Absolutely. Yes, many things in Germany are closed on Sundays, but the trains all run, regardless.
What are German rules about Sundays? ›Sunday is considered a day of rest in Germany, whether people are religious or not. An English family discover that they have broken German law when a policeman tells them that by law, people are expected to be quiet on a Sunday as it is a holy day, or a day of rest.
What do German people do on Sundays? ›For Germans, Sunday is the day of rest, on which you should do just? Exactly, rest! If you live in buildings where there are many apartments you should be careful not to make too much noise as you may disturb some people.
What can't you do on Sunday in Germany? ›- Do loud DIY jobs, like hammering or drilling.
- Play loud music music, or hold noisy gatherings.
- Run noise-making electrical appliances like vacuum cleaners. ...
- Wash your car (except at a car wash, if you can find one that's open)
In Germany, most businesses are closed on Sundays and on public holidays. Even supermarkets are closed, so people who move to Germany quickly learn to do their grocery shopping in advance. Fortunately, some grocery stores and pharmacies in Berlin are opened on Sundays.
Do Germans go to church every Sunday? ›
According to the German Bishops' Conference, only 10 percent of registered Catholics attend church on Sundays.
Who works on Sunday in Germany? ›Legal limits to working hours in Germany
Work on Sundays and public holidays is largely prohibited, except for workers in the service industry. Work on Sundays must be compensated by corresponding time off within the following two weeks.
Otherwise, if you make noise during the quiet hours — between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. — your guests have ten minutes to leave the premises and you get fined,” she explains.
Is Germany open or closed? ›Traveling and the COVID-19 pandemic – entry restrictions mostly lifted. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions for entry into Germany from areas of variant of concern apply. Persons entering these areas are required to provide a negative test result and quarantine. Restrictions from other areas have been lifted.
Is tomorrow a holiday in Germany? ›Holidays Today in Germany
There are no holidays in Germany today.
Noise in Germany keeps a strict schedule. Every night after 10 p.m. and on Sundays, Germans are required by a medley of federal, state and local laws to keep schtum. That means no spin cycles, no vacuuming, no power tools and no mowing the lawn.
How many times a week do Germans shower? ›...
| Country | % of people who shower each week | % of people who bath each week |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 92% | 20% |
| Brazil | 99% | 7% |
| China | 85% | 11% |
| USA | 90% | 13% |
When are the quiet hours in Germany? When it comes to Sundays and public holidays, Germans set more store than ever by quiet hours: this is when you should stick to an all-day rest. During the week and on Saturdays, the quiet hours in Germany are usually between 10 pm and 6 am.
Are trains usually busy on a Sunday? ›Avoid peak times
Usually trains start to get busy from 7.00am to 9.00am and from 4.30pm until after 6pm during the week. Fridays and Sundays are typically the busiest days as passengers travel away for the weekend.
One must be a registered user to IRCTC's website/app to book tickets and for any type of enquiries. No user can register more than once on the site. Online booking of train tickets are allowed from 00:20 am to 11:45 pm (Indian Standard Time) on all days including Sundays, according to IRCTC.
Why do trains take longer on Sunday? ›
Journey times are often extended on Sunday mornings to allow for track maintenance.
What are the working days in Germany? ›Legal working days in Germany are from Monday to Saturday, but for most workers, a standard work week is from 8 or 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Employees are allowed to work up to 10 hours per day, as long as the total weekly work time is not longer than 48 hours.
What are Sundays called in Germany? ›Sonntag (“Sunday”) comes from the German word Sonne (“sun”). So Sonntag and “Sunday” are both literally “the day of the sun” or “sun-day”.
Are bars closed on Sunday in Germany? ›Just as most restaurants are open on Sundays in Germany, many bars are too. In towns and smaller cities, bars may close a little earlier than usual on Sundays, but you can still fit in a couple of drinks with friends at the end of the day.
Can you wash your car on Sunday in Germany? ›Looking after your baby…
Germany had the same law but modified it to allow car washing on Sundays after midday (so your church going time is not disturbed). Although you are not able to do this car washing with water and detergent on the street, even if it is your own property.
Christmas Day (Weihnachtstag) is undoubtedly the biggest and most important national holiday of the year. In Germany, Christmas Day is marked by both religious and non-secular households.
What are blue laws in Germany? ›In the Federal Republic of Germany, the Ladenschlussgesetz or "Shop Closing Law" (abbreviated: LadSchlG) is the federal "blue law" compelling retail stores to close to the public on Sundays and Christian holidays.
How do you say thank you in German? ›1. Danke! — The universal “Thank you” in German. Danke translates to “thank you” or “thanks” and it is probably the best and certainly most common way to say thank you in German.
Is Sunday a non business day? ›Monday through Friday are considered business days, but holidays* and weekends are not.
Is everything closed on Sunday Berlin? ›Most stores in Berlin close on Sundays - but not all of them. There are a number of supermarkets and late shops throughout the city that stay open on Sundays. Many stores inside train stations and airports also open every day of the week.
Do Germans have to pay the church? ›
Taxpayers, whether Roman Catholic, Protestant or members of other tax-collecting communities, pay an amount equal to between 8% (in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg) and 9% (in the rest of the country) of their income tax to the church or other community to which they belong.
What is the fastest growing religion in Germany? ›- Unaffiliated (42%)
- Catholicism (26%)
- Evangelicalism (23.7%)
- Orthodoxy (1.9%)
- Other Christians (1.1%)
- Islam (3.5%)
- Alevis (0.8%)
- Buddhism (0.2%)
Only one of Germany's Bundesländer (federal states), the Saarland has a Catholic absolute majority: Catholicism is also the largest religious group in Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg.
Can you wash your car at home in Germany? ›Car washing laws in Germany are quite strict to prevent soap and oil getting into the waste water system, apparently, so don't just set up at a car wash at your house!!
Can you buy alcohol on Sunday in Germany? ›There has never been any law that obliges pubs and restaurants to close on Sundays, at least not for the last 100 years. As mentioned before, nothing /= shops. This (and of course government offices and such) are shut on Sundays.
Is Germany open to US citizens right now? ›Entry and Exit Requirements
All other U.S. citizens can enter Germany for all purposes, including tourism.
Restrictions have all been lifted since June 11, 2022, and you can freely enter the country.
Do I need a Covid test to enter the US from Germany? ›Before You Travel to the United States
Before boarding a flight to the United States, you are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 2 days before travel.
According to the International Standardization Organization ISO, Sunday is considered to be the last day of the week and it is a common holiday on this day.
Is Sunday a holiday yes? ›Sunday is a day of rest and worship in many faiths, but it is not considered as a holiday in some countries. Sunday is not a holiday as such, however, in many countries it is considered a holiday.
What happens if a public holiday falls on a Sunday in Germany? ›
In Germany when a public holiday falls on a weekend, the government does not allocate a day off in the week, unlike countries such as the UK and the US.
Where can I go on a Sunday in Germany? ›- Visit a Museum. Germany has over 6,200 museums full of culture and histories. ...
- Visit a Castle. ...
- Visit a Market. ...
- Go For a Walk. ...
- Go Hiking. ...
- Get Brunch. ...
- Go On A Trip. ...
- Go To The Cinema.
In the Federal Republic of Germany, the Ladenschlussgesetz or "Shop Closing Law" (abbreviated: LadSchlG) is the federal "blue law" compelling retail stores to close to the public on Sundays and Christian holidays.
What is the 10pm rule in Germany? ›Otherwise, if you make noise during the quiet hours — between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. — your guests have ten minutes to leave the premises and you get fined,” she explains.
Are any supermarkets open on Sunday in Germany? ›In Germany, most businesses are closed on Sundays and on public holidays. Even supermarkets are closed, so people who move to Germany quickly learn to do their grocery shopping in advance. Fortunately, some grocery stores and pharmacies in Berlin are opened on Sundays.