Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site terak.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!gatech!seismo!hao!noao!terak!suze From: suze@terak.UUCP (Suzanne Barnett) Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: Re: "Shopping days" Message-ID: <930@terak.UUCP> Date: Thu, 5-Dec-85 11:51:46 EST Article-I.D.: terak.930 Posted: Thu Dec 5 11:51:46 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 7-Dec-85 21:20:43 EST References: <291@brl-tgr.ARPA> Distribution: net Organization: Calcomp Display Products Division, Scottsdale, AZ, USA Lines: 51 > 'Tis the season of the year when you constantly see and hear the phrase > " shopping days 'til Christmas". I used to think nothing of it, but > now I find this usage quite annoying. Why? Because this area recently > voted down long-standing "Blue Laws" that prevented merchants from > having stores open on Sunday, and now there is no such thing as a > "shopping day" as distinct from just plain "day". Before, "shopping > days" meant "every day except Sunday". Now, there is no need to use the > phrase at all. > > I'd like to know if other areas, that haven't had "Blue Laws" > restricting Sunday sales for many years, still encounter local usage of > the "shopping days" phrase, or if it has died out (as it should). In Colorado, Nebraska and Arizona the stores are open on Sundays, yet the term "shopping days until Christmas" is used in all three places. It seems to be largely promoted by various stores advertising, a reminder to come in and transfer some of your money to the store. I enjoy the Christmas season, holiday decorations, shopping for presents for those I care about, etc. But it seems more and more that commercialism is infringing on the season. This year they had Santa at the mall two weeks before Thanksgiving!! > > I wonder how much of the USA still has Sunday-sales restrictions (not > counting liquor sales laws, which are too arcane to consider or even to > contemplate)? What about the rest of the world? Are there Sunday-closing > laws in European countries? Are Sabbath-closing laws in effect in > Israel, or only in some areas of that country? What about in Asian, > Islamic, and other regions/cultures/countries? Texas still has blue laws about being closed on Sundays, except for drug, grocery and convenience stores. Even these have restrictions on what they can sell on Sundays. (you can't go down to the drug store and buy a household appliance, such as an iron, on Sunday.) The law is written such that a store must be closed one day a week. Most, but not all stores choose Sunday. German stores are closed on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. It is illegal there to do any obvious work such as mowing the lawn or washing the car or windows on Sunday. -- ************************************************************** Suzanne Barnett-Scott uucp: ...{decvax,ihnp4,noao,savax,seismo}!terak!suze phone: (602) 998-4800 us mail: CalComp/Sanders Display Products Division (Formerly Terak Corporation) 14151 N 76th street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260