Unexpected announcement: compulsory shop closure in Hungary for Christmas Eve?

A Hungarian political party is advocating for 24 December to be recognised as a public holiday in Hungary. However, the likelihood of the Hungarian parliament, where Orbán’s Fidesz holds a supermajority, accepting this proposal is minimal. Yet, this suggestion is not entirely unprecedented in Hungary. In 2016, Hungary implemented a Sunday shopping ban, and now one of the popular retail chains in Hungary intends to keep its doors closed on 24 December. Could this become a trend?

According to Blikk, a German retail chain, Lidl, will remain closed in Hungary on 24 December, the busiest shopping day before Christmas. Despite the potential significant revenue loss, the company justifies its decision, emphasising that the expenses incurred on that day often surpass the income. Jenő Grósz, the president of Lidl Hungary’s directorate, said they would like to show an example and strengthen Hungary’s fundamental values.

Grósz underscored the significance of the family as a core value for the company, leading them to grant a holiday to their 8,500 employees. All 200 Lidl units in Hungary will, however, remain open on 23 December.

Csaba Bubenkó, chairman of Egyenlő.hu, a Hungarian trade union, noted that customer numbers are typically low on 24 December. Shops remain open mainly for prestige and business policy reasons, as competitors gaining an advantage is a concern. Drawing from his extensive experience in the sector, Bubenkó highlighted that 24 December is often unprofitable for companies and detrimental to employees who are unable to spend time with their families or prepare for evening celebrations.

Nationwide shop closure will come on Christmas Eve?

Egyenlő.hu suggests that all shops should remain closed on Christmas Eve, underlining that employees in the sector have no long weekends and can only enjoy two consecutive days at home during Christmas and Easter. The question now is how many retail chains will follow Lidl’s example. If this becomes a trend, we may have to plan our Christmas shopping earlier than 24 December.

The Hungarian opposition party, Jobbik-Conservatives, proposed a relevant bill in 2020, advocating for Christmas Eve to be recognised as a public holiday in Hungary. Despite repeated submissions, the Fidesz majority consistently rejects the bill.

For more articles on shopping in Hungary, you can find them all HERE. We recommend two of them below:

• Hungarians keep buying less: retail sales plummet – Read more HERE
• 2024 to bring inevitable and brutal price hikes to Hungary