It is sunday and that is the perfect day to write some words about the “Ladenschlussgesetz” - the “you have to have your shop closed at certain times law” - one of the oddest things about Germany. While it forbids to have your shop open after 8 pm on working days - which is stupid - it forbids to have your shop open at all on sundays - which is also stupid.
The two main arguments against opening the shops on sundays are ridiculous:
Argument one: Shops need to be closed because it’s a holiday, the christian churces say.
It is a holiday for the christians, so what about all the people who are members of different churches than the christian ones? It is not a holiday for them but they can not go shopping. Besides the fact that in Germany more and more people turn away from the catholic and protestantic church and the ones that stay in, I guess only 5 % of those go to mass on sunday, so we are speaking of a small minority here that affects that a big majority of people can not go shopping on sundays.
Most important though: We have a separation of state and church in our country so religious groups shouldn’t determine what the general public is allowed to do - this concerns all other religious holidays too. Even in the very religious US there aren’t any religious holidays where the whole country takes off and shops are not allowed to open.
Argument two: The sundays are days for the families to do things together - it’s less hectic then too when the shops are closed.
Well, if it is too hectic for you to go shopping then stay away from the malls and the shopping centers, it’s as simple as that.
And the big error about the family argument: Are we living in a two class society, where one part is allowed to have spare time and the other has to work? What about the nurses or bus drivers who have to work on sundays? They are not allowed to be together with their family?
So, if you really are for both of those arguments then be consequent, close all hospitals, public transportation has to be cancelled and close the shops in the gas stations and train stations because if people are not allowed to work, then all of use please.
Why is this post in the Berlin section?
Well, Berlin is special as we all know and special concerning opening times too. For instance whenever there is a festival, big trade fair or special event the shops are allowed to be open on Sunday afternoons. Sounds not logical to you guys from foreign countries? Well, what about this: Just a while ago the mall nearby had a sign up announcing that they will be open up on Sunday but because of that they needed to close earlier on the Saturday.
Anyways, it is stupid, but at least it helps open the shops a little bit. So, on these days the families that normally sit on their couch the whole day and watch TV are actually getting out and go shopping and the shops have record sales - something that actually helps our wrecked down economy.
I need to mention that there have been efforts of policitians to change this nonsense in this country but so far they were not successful.
Tags: Berlin, families, Germany, holidays, opening_times, politics, religion, shops, Sunday