Sundays are usually very quiet in Germany. It can seem as if there is nothing open, no one is doing any housework and it seems a few more people are walking about outside. This is due to the laws that dictate life in Germany on these days.
Other than shops in gas stations, train stations or airports, most shopsare usually closed on Sundays. All that is open are restaurants, museums andtransportation centers. This is due to the Ladenschlussgesetz or "Store-closing law," which forbid stores from operating on Sundays.
Tough laws onshopping
The Ladenschlussgesetzwas put into effect in 1956 in former West Germany. The law stayed this waywith only minor revisions until 2006. On top of this, Article 140 of Germany’s constitution, the "Grundgesetz" or "Basic Law" dictates Sunday as a day of rest, just like the Bible.This was not the case in former East Germany,which did allow Sunday shopping until reunification, when it used the WestGerman model.
In 2006, individual states in Germany weregiven the duty to determine the amount of time shops could be open. In every stateexcept for Bavaria and Saarland, some shops are allowed to open onselect Sundays throughout the year, but the number of Sundays varies by state.For example, Berlin has allowed eight Sundays for shops to be open in 2017,while North Rhine- Westphalia allows up to 11 Sundays for business per year. Theonly shops that are usually open on Sundays are convenience stores, which arecommonly known as Kiosks or "Spätkaufs" (late-shopping stores).
Do notdisturb
Sunday is also a day of rest at home in Germany. Though what is consideredas "Quiet law" varies from town to town, it is generally frowned upon to do anynoisy housework on Sundays in Germany. This includes using motor-driven lawnequipment, such as a lawnmower, or home equipment like a loud vacuum.Otherwise, you could be slapped with a fine or seen in court if a neighborthinks you’re too loud, even if it’s not Sunday.
One is expected to keep noise to a reasonable level throughout the day, butkeep quiet overnight. German magazine Der Spiegel noted in 2006 that the "Ruhezeit" (quiet time) isbetween 8 pm and 7 am (20:00-7:00) Monday-Saturday and all day on Sunday andholidays.
Some areas, such as Hamburg, also have mid-day quiet hours between1-3pm.
Even if you don't make much noise, you can still get in trouble with yourneighbors or the law. It is illegal to wash a car in anything other than anapproved facility, for example. There have been cases where a neighbor was taken tocourt after having barbeques or even smoking. Germans live in tight quarters soit is best to ask your neighbors what is and is not allowed in order to avoidany problems.
So like the rest of Germany, be certain to take not just work seriously,but rest as well.
