Do shops really need to open on Boxing Day?

my daughter made a valid point the other day when discussing this between us.
what about the people who don't celebrate christmas and would want to go shopping on boxing day as they usually do?
if people don't want to go shopping on boxing day then they should either stay at home or go and do something else instead.

In fact some supermarkets open on Sunday mornings here in rural France. There are also some shops which open on Sundays not just for Christmas.
Boxing Day is not a bank hol and people are generally back to work after a couple of days. NY is celebrated much more here.

No Boxing Day in France and it's horrid. Shops opening on Sundays creeping in now. I really liked the feeling of not being able to go shopping. Very relaxing.

Its not just shop staff who are made to work Boxing day. Those in NHS and care workers as well as delivery drivers and those who work in hospitality and many pickers and packers all have to work as well. But imo no non essential services should not be made to work Christmas day, Boxing day or New Years day.

In Spain for Semana Santa a few years ago and the shops were firmly closed for 4 days. Also, in France on May Day once, I have never seen a country so closed. It used to be like that at Easter here when I was small. The bakers were open for a few hours for hot cross buns on good Friday and then everything closed, opened on Saturday, but many shops with half-day closing, then closed Sunday and Easter Monday. I'm in the 'let people have time off if they want it camp'. Noticed yesterday that my Sainsbury's is open 6 a.m. to midnight on Boxing Day.

Boxing day to me is wonderful..its Relax day.eat nibbles.have a long walk.drink hot choc(?later)nap?. watch t.v....DEF NO SHOPPING!!!!!?

I will NOT be shopping on Boxing Day - never have, we do Christmas again for my husbands family (we do mine on Christmas Day) DH family spend their Christmas at SFIL's children's having a veggie Christmas and then we "go again" on Boxing Day to satisfy their Turkey Lust! I probably won't shop again until January. We also ban internet shopping in our house - I refuse to wait in for delivery or try to talk to people fiddling with their phones etc. I don't think I've ever been shopping on a Sunday or for that matter a Wednesday afternoon - nor do my DC or their families. My parents were shop keepers and Sunday and Wednesday afternoons were our only family time - so I preserve the habit and do not buy on the Internet or via self checkouts etc. It's still firmly 1950 in my heart, and it's nicer there!!

It is a normal working day here, most shops close on Sundays as well,only British people seem to complain that they cannot go shopping on a Sunday.

No. I think it's totally unnecessary for shops to be open on Boxing Day. Staff should be allowed the day off to spend as they please. I would never go to the shops on Boxing Day because it's part of the Christmas holiday and I want to extend that Christmassy feeling. Christmas flies by as it is, so let's make the most of it.

Well said Millymouge my DD works for a large coffee chain who have decided to open some of their shops on Christmas day. This year they have asked for volunteers but my DD says its a matter of time before this is thrust on them and they are forced to work. It's not only that but my DD would be forced to get a taxi there and back as she could get there any other way. Boxing day is just another day to them.

I personally won't be going near any shops not my favourite thing at any time of year. However I think places should be open if staff are happy about it. Thankfully religious connotations have virtually disappeared so no reason not to.

As a PAssistant am working C Eve and Boxing Day!

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...

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.

No

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Posted on wrong thread. Not sure how that happened.

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

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.

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

Why?