DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
German news & articles
Germany celebrates 1.700 years of work-free Sundays
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Germany celebrates 1.700 years of work-free Sundays

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

[Video] Interview questions you might hear in Germany[Video] Interview questions you might hear in Germany
Germany: How businesses continue to operate during the corona crisisGermany: How businesses continue to operate during the corona crisis
German consumers feel the pinch as real wages fall by 1,8 percentGerman consumers feel the pinch as real wages fall by 1,8 percent
Surge in demand for German passports ahead of holidays leads to longer waiting timesSurge in demand for German passports ahead of holidays leads to longer waiting times
Graduates in Germany earn an average starting salary of 45.000 eurosGraduates in Germany earn an average starting salary of 45.000 euros
German toilet paper manufacturers struggle amid energy crisisGerman toilet paper manufacturers struggle amid energy crisis
Europeans rank Berlin as the fourth best city to work in worldwideEuropeans rank Berlin as the fourth best city to work in worldwide
German employees coping with workplace stress better than mostGerman employees coping with workplace stress better than most
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usImpressumSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Mar 7, 2021
William Nehra
William studied a masters in Classics at the University of Amsterdam. He is a big fan of Ancient History and football, particularly his beloved Watford FC. Read more

This week, church representatives and trade unionists celebrated 1.700 years of work-free Sundays in Germany. However, the HDE retail federation wants to go to court to fight for more shops being allowed to open on the Lord’s day of rest.

The day of rest

1.700 years ago, in the year 321, the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great venerated Sunday as a day of rest for all citizens, dedicating it as “dies Sol Invictus” or “the day of the Unconquered Sun.” Representatives from the Church and the Ver.di trade union celebrated the occasion earlier this week.

However, this year, the German retail association Handelverband Deutschland (HDE) wants to petition the Federal Constitutional Court to allow for more opportunities for shops to open on Sundays. The HDE argues that, with so many businesses threatened by the coronavirus lockdown, shops should be allowed to open on Sundays and the HDE president, Josef Sanktjohanser, said that such a decision will play a role in making inner cities more attractive. The HDE has said that if no legal solutions are forthcoming, it will take its complaints to the courts.

The Ver.di trade union has reiterated its stance against working on Sundays, with board member Stefanie Nutzenberger saying, “Sunday openings are not the solution for future-proof and sustainable trade." There is also the worry that more retail businesses being allowed to open on Sunday will lead to more widespread working on Sundays. "An extension of shop opening hours is the door opener for Sunday work for other industries, and the Sunday protection is anchored in the Basic Law for good reason," said Nutzenberger.

Who works on Sundays?

Estimates from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) show that about a quarter of employees in Germany work regularly on Sundays. As of 2009, any business or employer that wants to open on Sunday must have a sufficient factual reason to do so.

The HDE believe that, in light of coronavirus in Germany and the subsequent lockdowns, the retail industry needs every opportunity to try and get back on its feet.

By William Nehra