Do shops really need to open on Boxing Day?

No, No and No.

You truly do not need to bring religion into this- it is just commonsense.

I've seen first hand the devastating effect working very long and crazy hours can have on one's family and health- but in some professions, like nursing or medicine- there is little choice. If you have a heart attack or accident on Boxing Day or the middle of the night- you want the police, ambulance and nurses and doctors to be there for you (hopefully not having worked non stop for 2 days and 1 night or more ... as used to be the case when junior doctors were expected to work 14ohrs+) ... but truly, we can survive without shopping for ONE day Ffudgesake.

We were designed to have a pattern of work and rest and need to follow the principle so that we function well and our good health is maintained. The instruction for this is given in several places in the Old Testament and when things are repeated so often then you know there is real significance in it. People and economies prosper when they observe this principle.

There are many interesting views of 'the pattern of work' and I give a link to an interesting but quite a small read on it. www.acts17-11.com/dialogs_6days.html

Which is why sometimes legislation is great. If the law says shops have to be closed on Boxing Day (or any other special Day) - then that's it- That fear of competition is taken away- everyone can put their feet up and enjoy - and people and families can think of nice things to do together apart from shopping for ONE DAY A YEAR - go for a walk, chat, play games, watch a good film- whatever- and relax, enjoy- breathe.

It's not difficult, really.

Of course shops do not need to open! As someone has already said there is not going to be any greater amount of cash available to spend just because the shops are open on a Bank Holiday - in the same way that there is no greater amount of cash to spend when the shops are open on a Sunday. The staffing costs rise as do the running costs when businesses are open for longer hours so nobody truly gains. The fear that businesses have is that if they remain closed then another business will profit and gain sales which might have come their way if they had opened too.

But then it is all part of the new religion of 'commerce'!

My friend owns a garden centre. Her family love Christmas day and Easter Sunday because they all have to close. Not need to worry they are missing out on a sale when customers can go the the one up the road for their new plant

My husband worked as a retail manager for many years and had to work every Boxing Day when the stores started staying open. He said they weren't particularly profitable days, as the staff ( in those days, anyway) couldn't be compelled to work - unlike the managers - and had to be paid more to get them to do so, and that people only had a limited amount of money to spend, anyway. Some were broke after Xmas, and some were ready to spend money in the sales but it didn't really matter whether those sales began on 26th or 27th. People didn't magically find more money to spend, they just spent it over more days. So, Boxing Day opening didn't make much sense commercially but all the stores were intent on opening if their rivals did.

A bit ridiculous, really, and not good for workers with families.

I avoid the shops on Boxing Day as don't like crowds, however if people choose to shop, can't really see a problem, each to their own.

I've only shopped once on Boxing Day.

The real christmas tree that I'd nurtured and loved all through the previous year was brought in, decorated and looked gorgeous. And then promptly dropped all it's needles, the little ingrate!

So on Boxing Day I went to our local garden centre which was selling off all it's Christmas stock at half price and I bought a 6ft artificial tree which has served me faithfully and beautifully for the past 20-odd years.

But other than that, no shopping for me I've done enough!

Our local Tesco is not opening on Boxing Day.

We still have half day closing in our village but only some shops

I work in retail and have to work Boxing Day. I do have Christmas Eve off though

why not?

Have one day that everyone- apart from those in essential emergency services- can have for themselves, on their own, as a couple, or as a family, with friends, whomever.

And since Sunday was the traditional day off- it would be the easiest to return to being 'special', and different.

I find it sad beyond belief, and totally pathetic too, tbh- that people just can't think of anything else to do than shop. And it's not about the shoppers, but the workers.

When they started Sunday opening, it was a choice whether to do so or not - but now it is no longer a choice. Same for Boxing Day. In France, Christmas dinner with the family is on 24th - and more or less everyone has 25th off- so the concept of Boxing Day is indeed irrelevant.

Why?

I still think every shop should be closed on Sunday's

Not being able to partake in a ''family Christmas'' I would have nothing to do on Boxing Day if the shops were closed. Get enough of sitting around other times.

Not all of Europe stay closed on Sundays and public holidays. I was most surprised when I moved to Portugal and found that shopping centres stayed open all day on Sunday. Not just for 5 hours but a case of opening at 9 or 10am and staying open until 10pm at night. At first supermarkets had to close at 1pm but now they are open all day on Sunday. Obviuously privately owned shops tend to be closed on Sundays and public holidays. The choice is theirs.

But they do have a set period for "saldos" or sales which is say from early January for a month and July for a month. At any other time they cannot say they are having a sale but can say they have "discounts".

I rarely go shopping at weekends as I feel I have all week to shop so leave it to the people who work to shop at weekends. I did the same in the UK. I am getting so that I really don't like crowds

Posted on wrong thread. Not sure how that happened.

Years ago shops were never open on Boxing or any other bank holiday. Always closed Sundays and every town had half day closing mid week too. Shops closed at 5.30pm.

We appear to have followed the US because the rest of Europe still follow this pattern. I always feel for staff having to work on days when they should be with family. I made a point of not shopping on Sundays or bank holidays, even when I was at work.

We managed before and given many supermarkets are open 24 hours a day 7 days a week you can shop every day if you wish, so there is no reason why we can't manage now. But we can't turn back time and nothing will change. I feel quite sad about this but no doubt others have a different view.

I never go shopping on Boxing Day. I try not to go shopping on Sundays either. I try to spend time with my family on Sunday. Boxing Day used to be a hunting day when I went hunting. I still go to the meet to show my support. You see lots of people, have a drink and a few sandwiches and then go home or off to see family you didn't see on Christmas Day. If the weather is nice and the hounds are not nearby like they are this year we go for a pony ride.

Some restaurants are opened, others not- this has always been the case as people like to eat out with the family at weekends.

Shopping is different- and shops have always been closed On Sunday. Our local store is opened on Sunday morning- as by Law, they can only open on Sundays or after regular hours, if the owner and family are prepared to do it themselves, and not impose it on their workers.

Our local French town has just one minor supermarket opened on Sunday mornings - nobody in there- families choose to do other more interesting thing. On-line shopping and Amazon not very popular at all as yet.

There is a difference between being asked to keep treat secret and being told to keep something unpleasant secret. It should not be difficult for a child to learn the difference.

I think if I read the OP again ...it asks do shops NEED to open?

I would say no but they WANT to.

Two totally different things.

I have never and will never hit the shops on Boxing Day. It's still part of Christmas for me . There's nothing I want that badly.

No

I don't agree that if the shops don't open people will do their shopping online Virtually every high street trader trades on the Internet too. OK there are a few independent retailers but I am sure they only open because the big guys do.
My daughter works for a big fashion retailer who also has a catalogue and an internet site too. She has a family but has to work until 9pm helping prepare for the sale starting on Boxing day. On Boxing day after catering for the family Christmas Day she doesn't get a relaxing day off but has to be at work for 5.30am for the start of the sale. All this for pennies more than the basic wage. No overtime rate paid. I have never been shopping on a Boxing day and never will.

With Christmas Day falling on a Sunday this year, the Monday and Tuesday are both bank holidays, but I'm sure most shops will be open. I'm not even sure if staff get extra pay for working bank holidays now...