Christmas Closures

 

Christmas Closures

While everyone knows we are in a national lockdown with various state centric restrictions. I don't think everyone knows Germany shuts down completely during the holidays. It can be a confusing thing for expats who are not used to religion running consumerism. Americans can and will go out every single national holiday as long as stores and businesses permit them to. I mean look how we are handling this pandemic. Even with non essential stores being closed here there could be a  few people either new here or in dire need of something that may have not realized technically everything stops the week of Weihnachten. Foolishly year after a year I waltz out the door expecting for my doctor, butcher and restaurant to be open the week of Christmas. I am then met with a crude handwritten note that explains a departure through the 26th or my favorite until the new year. Some businesses simply aren't out to get the holiday dollar and now this is more prevalent because of the lockdown.

• Doctors may see you, do tests etc. but not provide results until after the holidays or well into the new year - talk with your doctor asap if your have vital needs like insulin 
• Family ran grocery stores may take holiday without warning and their closures may not be reflected on their websites or on Google Maps - always check first!
• Gov't offices and agencies may also close early and your emails may not be addressed in their absence so you want to verify they are conducting business at all
• Restaurants or Businesses offering pickups and deliveries may suddenly stop services without warning - be prepared
• Grocery stores may have limited hours before the holidays and can remain shut for up to three days according to what day of the week the holiday falls - so you may want to get two things of milk instead of your usual one 
• Shipping may be constrained meaning your package may not arrive on time but this also applies to supply chains in all sectors - stores may become limited in on-hand goods and other services could be interrupted - be prepared for empty shelves for a few days after the holidays
• Banking hours can get funky and ATM's may get low on bills because of last minute gifting - take out cash sooner than later and make sure your Klarna and AfterPay is paid to avoid a fee
• Last but not least Covid is affecting a lot of businesses that were attempting to remain open to service you - lack of employees due to illness can affect them and ultimately shutter a business that had all intentions of remaining open 

Maybe this blog has reached you too late as it is already 23:00 on the 22nd. Technically, the 23rd is Christmas Eve in Germany and Christmas falls on the 24th. So businesses and services will slow tomorrow to close Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This means on Monday stores will still be depleted and smaller businesses may opt to remain closed through the New Year. Tomorrow may be your last chance to see your doctor, fill prescriptions, get grocery and tie up whatever loose ends you have. I would advise that you get whatever you need and prepare for a long shut in without store runs and errands until at least Tuesday the 28th. Even then that only leaves you with a few days then it will happen all over again with things shuttering the 31st and 1st. Many will opt to stay closed through the 4th. It just isn't logical for a lot of German businesses to open up for one lone Saturday at the beginning of the new year especially during a global pandemic and national lockdown that ends on the 10th. If it ends. For more information about retailers and shipping carriers see here for some updates. Otherwise, bleibt gesund!