The Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that prevents shops over 280 sq m/3,000 sq ft from opening on Christmas Day. The Act only applies in England and Wales. Shops smaller than the limit are not effected. In Westminster System parliaments, an Act of Parliament is a part of the law passed by the Parliament. ... The Houses of Parliament, seen over Westminster Bridge The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... Look up shop in Wiktionary, the free dictionary A shop is an enclosed location where a specific activity is carried out. ... Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus, at the first Christmas Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: England Travel guide to England from Wikitravel English language English law English (people) List of monarchs of England – Kings of England family tree List of English people Angeln (region in northern Germany, presumably the origin of the Angles for whom England is named) UK... National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Waless location within the UK Official languages English, Welsh Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff First Minister Rhodri Morgan Area  - Total Ranked 3rd UK 20,779 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 3rd UK 2,903,085 140/km² NUTS 1...

The Act was introduced to the House of Commons by Kevan Jones, MP for Durham North as a Private Member's Bill on 7 January, 2004. The Act was passed by both the Commons and the House of Lords, and received Royal Assent on 28 October, coming into force on 9 December 2004. The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and is now the dominant branch of Parliament. ... Kevan David Jones MP (born 25 April 1964) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... A Private Members Bill is a proposed law introduced by a member of parliament, whether from the government or the opposition side, to that legislature or parliament. ... This article is about the British House of Lords. ... The granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which the Sovereign of the United Kingdom, or the Sovereigns representative in Commonwealth Realms, completes the process of the enactment of legislation by formally assenting to an Act of Parliament. ...

The aim of the Act was to keep Christmas Day a "special" day, whereby all major retailers would be closed. Although it was traditional for major retailers to close on the 25 December, some retailers, such as Woolworths began to open some stores in the late 1990s. Both religious groups and shop worker unions were against the idea of Christmas openings, leading to pressure on Government to pass legislation to prevent the practice. F.W. Woolworth Company the original USA based chain of high street shops. ...

External links

• Text of the Act
• Department of Trade and Industry Factsheet