Keeping Sundays Special (why a quiet day matters)
For years, the idea of a quiet Sunday has stood out in England. Many saw it as a time to rest, spend time with family, or simply pause from a busy week. The campaign to Keep Sundays Special grew out of this feeling that Sundays shouldn’t become just another workday.
Shops often stayed shut or opened for fewer hours, and the streets felt calmer. People valued having a day to recharge or share a meal together. In this post, you’ll get a look at the story behind the campaign, what Sundays used to mean up and down the country, and why many believe it’s worth keeping that slower pace, even now.
Not many realise that you do have certain legal rights, if you don’t want to work Sundays. Citizens Advice has good info. But if you refuse – they may find some other way to fire you?
Stores over 280 square metres are now allowed to open for 6 continuous hours on Sundays, but not allowed to open on Easter Sunday or Christmas Day.
Long Living People Don’t Work Sundays
You may have heard of Dr Ellsworth Wareham, the vegan cardiologist who continued his practice well into his 90s (he said the only problem was when the patients saw how old he was, just before they went under the knife!)
Although his diet and lifestyle played a key part, it’s interesting that he was from the Californian town of Loma Linda.
This town is religious (Seventh Day Adventist). So apart from emergency services, everything shuts down on Sundays, and people do nothing. And the town has the highest longevity of any town in the USA.
Do not let Sunday be taken from you. If your soul has no Sunday, it becomes an orphan. Albert Schweitzer
The Igbo (who live mostly in Nigeria) have a four-day week (the second day Orie is a holy day of obligation when farmers rest).
On Ghana’s coastline, no fishing is allowed on Tuesday, to give the sea time to replenish. Mohandas Gandhi took each Monday as a day of total silence. Try it. One day a week. It could be merely a question of doing nothing. Jonathan Schorsch
The Influence of Faith
Faith, especially Christian faith, gave Sunday its special role in England. For centuries, church bells marked the start of a slower day. Families would dress up and walk to church together, setting aside work and chores. It wasn’t just about the service. The day carried a simple message: take time to rest and reconnect.
In Christian practice, Sunday is special because it marks the resurrection of Jesus. Early Christians chose this day for worship to set themselves apart from Jewish Sabbath traditions (which fall on Saturday). For many, that Sunday rhythm became woven into daily life. Long before shops or football matches, the quiet of Sunday held a different weight thanks to church traditions and rest.
Tradition and Community
Tradition kept Sunday different even beyond faith. Villages and towns would plan around it. Walks and family visits were the norm. In some places, you could almost hear the quiet—little traffic, closed shops, a distant sound of church choirs.
The slower pace let people recharge and spend time together in ways that can be hard to find in a busy week.
Some of these traditions still linger. Afternoon teas and family dinners often happen on Sundays. Many older people remember when even chores took a back seat. You might spot friends at the park or families strolling after lunch. These customs became part of the weekly rhythm that people looked forward to.
Protecting Worker Rights
No one wants to feel like they’re always on call. In England and across much of Europe, the right to rest is often seen as basic as fair pay. Allowing workers Sunday as a day off helps draw a line between work life and home life.
- Right to Refuse: Laws in some countries mean staff can say no to Sunday shifts without losing their jobs. Germany’s “blue laws” keep most big shops closed on Sundays. Workers in Austria and Poland also get this guaranteed pause, making it clear that time off matters as much as time at work.
- Balancing Act: Not everyone has control over their schedule. With more places open every day, staff, especially in shops, often feel pressured to work weekends. When Sunday stays special, it stops bosses expecting round-the-clock cover.
- Fairness Across Sectors: Those in care or emergency jobs may still need to work, but keeping other industries closed helps cut the pressure and shows respect for everyone’s time.
Supporting Mental Wellbeing
A pause in the weekly rush can work wonders for your headspace. Mental health experts talk all the time about the need for downtime. Sundays give people a built-in reason to switch off.
Benefits include:
- Lower Stress: Without the hum of everyday business, people can breathe easier. No last-minute work emails or calls pulling you away from home.
- Stronger Bonds: Time off together brings families closer. Parents get the chance to play with their children, have lunch with relatives, or go for a walk in the park.
- Time to Reset: Quiet Sundays let people follow interests, reflect, or just nap. Over time, this break can cut down on burnout and make Monday feel less like a mountain to climb.
Examples Across Europe:
- In Greece, Sunday shop closures still hold in most places. Families often spend the afternoon outside or at local cafés.
- In Poland, schools and businesses slow down, giving entire towns a breather every week.
Local Shops and Less Consumer Pressure
Protecting Sundays does more than help workers and families. It can also give life back to the high street.
When supermarkets and chains stay open all week, small local shops struggle to keep up. Limiting trade on Sundays helps even the playing field. Owners get a break with their families, and staff don’t have to sacrifice their weekends just to stay afloat.
Key outcomes:
- Community First: Local shops can survive when they aren’t forced to compete nonstop. That means more unique stores, friendlier faces, and money staying in the neighbourhood.
- Reduced Consumerism: A quieter Sunday puts less pressure on everyone to shop for the sake of it. Instead, people use these hours for hobbies, home-cooked meals, or chatting with neighbours.
- Warmer Feel: Anyone who’s walked down a high street in Austria or Germany on a Sunday knows the calm. Coffee shops are full, but shops are shuttered. Friends gather without the urge to rush to the next sale.
What Makes a Restful Sunday?
Time Spent Outdoors
Stepping outside on a Sunday morning can feel like hitting a reset button. Parks fill up with families, friends meet for walks, and the simple act of breathing fresh air is enough to make anyone feel lighter. Nature works its quiet magic best when you let yourself slow down.
People find calm in many ways:
- A walk in the local park or woods: Even half an hour outside can make you feel brighter. You might spot neighbours out for a stroll or meet someone walking their dog.
- Bike rides: A gentle cycle through the countryside or along quiet streets feels different when you’re not racing the clock.
- Gardening: Potting up some seeds or tidying the garden gives a sense of purpose, but still lets you take it easy.
If planting green spaces, read up on pet-friendly gardens and wildlife-friendly gardens. If planting trees, know of trees to avoid near horses (including yew, oak and sycamore).
Cooking and Sharing Food
Food brings people together, and Sunday offers a perfect reason to gather round the table. The smells tumbling out of kitchens speak of comfort and tradition without much fuss. When meals are shared, they linger longer and feel more special.
- Families pull together for a Sunday veggie roast or a slow breakfast.
- Baking bread or cakes becomes a group effort, not just a chore.
- Lunch spills into the afternoon, with stories, laughter, and sometimes a dozy nap.
Small Pleasures and Simple Routines
Slower Sundays shine when you let yourself enjoy life’s small comforts. It might mean reading a book in the sun, listening to music, or just enjoying a quiet cup of tea. Setting aside time for these simple habits can make a big difference.
Here are some ideas that work for many people:
- Write a letter or postcard to a friend instead of firing off a quick text.
- Tidy a small space at home while listening to your favourite album.
- Do a puzzle, draw, or knit for a bit of quiet focus.
- Switch off your phone for a couple of hours and notice the difference.
Community Events and Local Gatherings
A restful Sunday doesn’t have to be spent alone. Plenty of people find joy in joining community events. Local fairs, Sunday football matches, open gardens, and car-boot sales all offer low-key ways to spend time together.
Local noticeboards or online groups often list what’s on. Attending even one event here or there helps build ties and makes the day feel brighter. Simple pleasures like a stroll to a farmers’ market or a chat with someone at a car boot sale are ways to feel part of something bigger, without having to do much.
Doing Less to Enjoy More
Restful Sundays work best when you let yourself press pause. This can look different for everyone, but the idea is to do a little less so you can enjoy a little more.
Some practical ways include:
- Skipping the big shop and using what’s in the fridge or cupboard.
- Leaving chores for another day if they aren’t urgent.
- Saying ‘no’ to anything that feels like another job, unless it brings peace or joy.
Giving yourself permission to step back means you’re more likely to enjoy what you do choose. A restful Sunday doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be yours, done your way.
Whatever you choose, a truly restful Sunday is about turning down the noise, even just a little. By doing so, you can keep the spirit of Sundays alive in a way that fits your life today.
Preparing Your Heart for Weekly Mass
Bath Abbey is a unique building with grand stained-glass windows, honey-gold stone and beautiful fan vaulting, creating magnificent light. A place of worship for over 1200 years, it still holds regular services throughout the week.
This historic holy place also features unique ‘ladders of Angels, created after the Bishop of Bath had dreams of Angels descending and ascending from Heaven.
One Sunday at a Time is a beautiful colour book to help you prepare for 10 minutes each week, to help experience the Sunday Mass more fully, and deepen your love for the Word of God.
An ideal resource for Catholics who wish to get more out of Mass, learn to understand the Bible better, receive God’s grace and learn how to make the liturgy come to life in a whole new way.
In this book you’ll find brief summaries of Mass readings for Sundays and engaging reflections to draw your attention to primary themes and common threads each week. Also find explanations of key Greek and Hebrew words in Biblical texts.
The book also includes prayer and a weekly challenge to help put into practice the message of each week’s readings in daily life. Author Mark Hart is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and research fellow at the St Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He lives in Arizona, USA.).
