Sunday shopping

Sunday shopping refers to freedom for retailers to operate stores on Sundays, in countries where Christian tradition typically required a "day of rest".

Canada

In 1982, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the Lord's Day Act. However, at that time, only the Canadian Bill of Rights existed. That document only protected existing Canadian rights. As a result, the Court noted that Canada was an overwhelmingly Christian country that had accepted Sunday closing laws for years. The Court determined that the Lord's Day Act did not force people to practice Christianity or stop practising their own religion.

However, later that year, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was introduced, ensuring freedom of conscience and religion, regardless of existing federal or provincial laws. On April 24, 1985 - the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Lord's Day Act violated Canadians' freedom of religion. The 1985 ruling examined the original purpose of the act. It found that the Christian value of keeping the Sabbath holy had been incorporated into a law that affected all Canadians, Christian or not. This law -- the Lord's Day Act -- prevented non-Christians from performing otherwise legal activities on Sundays. This was inconsistent with the Canadian charter.

Nova Scotia is the only Canadian province that still prohibits Sunday shopping, although it did experiment with the practice in 2003. Nova Scotia's Retail Business Uniform Closing Day Act allows some stores, such as video rental outlets and book stores, to open on Sundays, but department stores must remain closed.

United States

Many stores in the United States have reduced hours of operation on Sundays, although the recent trend has led to expansion.

Europe

Many European nations continue to not allow Sunday shopping.

Germany

Germany recently ruled against Sunday shopping. See .