Finally free! A praise of Sunday

Abstract

Sunday is Sunday and, therefore, different from other days. Considered partially a day of rest, partly as the Lord's Day, Sunday is characterized as the antithesis of commercialization not only because it is a day off work but because it facilitates the synchronization of society. Both trade unions and churches are united on this issue - although they have different motivations. Some state governments have taken a variety of measures in their attempts to have Sunday shopping made legal. The Federal Constitutional Court and the Higher Administrative Court of Münster, for example in 2009 and November 2020 respectively, have consistently rejected these requests. Even the Corona pandemic, which is currently, frequently, being put forward as a justification for the necessity of Sunday openings, cannot change the inpermissability of these openings. Instead, Sunday should continue to be preserved and protected as a protest against increasing commercialization. In this context, the abolition of holidays such as the Day of Prayer and Repentance has led to more emphasis being placed on employees' individual holidays and, at the same time, to a reduction in the fundamental importance of holidays. In order to prevent further losses, protecting Sundays should be held made a high priority.