New BAT survey on the leisure rituals of Germans

Germans are remarkably organized in their leisure time. Almost one in three Germans regularly reserves a weekday for family or going out, for sports or relaxation. More than 20 percent also have a fixed appointment for hobbies, clubs, or visits. And even the "swimming day" is still a familiar concept for one in four Germans. This is according to a new representative survey by the BAT Leisure Research Institute, in which 2,000 people aged 14 and over were asked about their leisure habits.

The long weekend is far too short

Despite shorter working hours, most leisure activities are concentrated on the long weekend. Going out and visiting friends and family are just as much a part of the agenda as relaxing, reading, or pursuing hobbies. For around 10 million Germans, Saturday is their main day for going out. For the majority of those surveyed, Sunday's schedule is then dominated by two "F's": relaxing (13.0 million) and family (13.5 million). For many, Sunday thus becomes a balancing act between personal and shared leisure activities. After all, time spent together as a couple shouldn't be neglected. For 2.4 million Germans, the seventh day of the week is a "cuddle day.".

Rituals are part of everyday leisure time

Leisure rituals, largely unexplored to date, have always held a firm place in people's everyday lives. What begins as a cherished habit or daily routine can become a practiced action and rigid order: from greetings, washing, and changing after work to shared breakfasts and family walks on Sundays. For Prof. Dr. Horst W. Opaschowski, the scientific director of the BAT Institute, such established and cherished habits provide people with structure and stability in their daily lives. They play a particularly important stabilizing role in the lives of family members. Underlying them is the need for security and comfort, the desire for a harmonious evening or a pleasant weekend.