Overview
- Rewe says most stores will close between 13:00 and 14:00 on December 31, matching early shutdowns already outlined by Lidl, Aldi, Kaufland and Edeka.
- The vast majority of branches will not open on January 1, with limited exceptions at airports, major train stations and some coastal tourist areas under the local Bäderregelung.
- Chains report a return to normal trading times from January 2 across Germany.
- December 31 is not a public holiday, but state Ladenschluss rules set the legal windows for opening; special limits apply in states including Bremen, Hesse, Lower Saxony and Thuringia.
- A viral claim of a Lidl store opening at 4:30 a.m. for fireworks reflects an isolated case, and the company says nearly all branches open at 7:00 on these dates.