Feb. 1, 2009
(CBS) Whether you're planning your Sunday brunch, taking a Sunday drive, or watching Sunday Morning, chances are you have your own Sunday ritual. It's the first day of the week, and for many, it's their favorite day.
A History of Sunday
What Makes Sundays So Special? Charles Osgood Takes an In-Depth Look
"I don't think Sunday will ever be like every other day of the week. It's a special day. And it will remain a special day," says author Stephen Miller.
For Miller, the best thing about Sunday is that it is a day of rest. "That it's a day when you don't have to do things, when you can just lie around, see people if you want, or not see people."
And seeing people is a Sunday activity that Americans enjoy. According to a recent survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 40 percent of us socialize on Sundays, but twice as many - eight out of ten - sit back and watch TV, an average of four hours. And then there's church: one in four attends religious services. And about that same number goes shopping.
But when Sunday Morning first went on the air in 1979, in many parts of the country it was impossible to shop on Sundays: Stores were required to be closed, says Stephen Miller, who's written a book on the subject: "The Peculiar Life of Sundays" (Harvard University Press).
Americans once had a very narrow choice of permissible Sunday activities: "There were so many arguments in the United States, especially in the 19th century," Miller said. "Sunday legislation was the second-most debated subject after slavery, because there were different opinions about what you could or couldn't do on Sunday."
Those opinions began with the Puritans, who settled in New England in the 1630s. They called it "Strict Sunday Observance." Sunday was a day for church-going, and "Blue Laws" made almost everything else illegal.
"There were Connecticut blue laws in the 18th century, which said that you could not kiss your baby. You could not tell a joke. There was absolutely no frivolity on Sunday. And you could not play an instrument," Miller says.
Church organs and hymns aside, music was taboo on Sundays. "There was a French soldier stationed in Boston, and during the Revolutionary War he started playing the flute. He was arrested. No flute-playing on the Sabbath!" Miller laughed.
Some blue laws still exist today, mostly to regulate alcohol sales. But Miller says Americans have come a long way from the age of "strict observance."
"Gradually, in the 20th century, all the things that we associate with Sunday now started. So, there's the Sunday drive, the Sunday dinner, Sunday sports. And the Sunday paper," Miller says. "The Sunday paper with the comics and the crosswords became a major American phenomenon."
"We continue to relax in front of the Sunday newspaper. One hundred and fifteen million people in America still read a Sunday newspaper. In fact, readership was up last year from the year before," says Janice Kaplan, the editor of Parade Magazine.
For almost 70 years, it's been a Sunday institution, now appearing in more than 450 Sunday newspapers across the country, with a parade of covers to show for it. Parade, says Kaplan, would not be Parade on any other day of the week.
"The Sunday paper is so invested with tradition. It's got all of those different sections in it. Everybody in the family has a section they want to read. And everybody pulls the one that means something to them. And then maybe they pass it around the Sunday table," Kaplan says.
One favorite section is Sunday Sports - two words that for millions of Americans have become synonymous with each other. Sports, like the newspapers that cover them, are now a firmly-established Sunday tradition.
"It was no small thing for Super Bowl to become an adjective for Sunday," says historian Craig Harline, who has written about how professional football became a weekly ritual in America, in
"Now you look at the Super Bowl, and it's this odd combination of religion, strip tease show, and, you know, who knows what else. But certainly it's bigger than football. It's about an American civil religion."
Which makes sense, says Harline, because football would not have been accepted on Sundays had it not first assumed a religious significance starting in the late 19th century. "Most Americans considered themselves Christians. And so they had to find a way to reconcile that. And the way they did that was, you know, this is a different day. Sunday is a special day. Most civilizations celebrate their holiest days with sports. Why wouldn't that be true in America as well?" Harline explains.
And so Sunday became a day for games and celebrations. But not for everyone.
There was nothing festive about the song "Gloomy Sunday," recorded by Billie Holiday in 1941. Stephen Miller says it reflects a larger theme in popular music: Sunday as a dark day:
"Gloomy is Sunday,"In fact, it was banned by the BBC during the war because it was too depressing," Miller says.
With shadows I spend it all.
My heart and I
Have decided to end it all.
Soon there'll be candles
And prayers that are said, I know,
But let them not weep,
Let them know that I'm glad to go.
Death is no dream
For in death I'm caressing you.
With the last breath of my soul
I'll be blessing you."
"You're talking about bein' alone on a Saturday night, that's sad, you know?" says music journalist Fred Goodman. "Bein' alone on a Sunday morning, that's tragic."
Goodman says some songs about Sunday sadness focus on failed expectations for our day off.
"One of the great examples is Kris Kristofferson's song, 'Sunday Morning Coming Down.' It's about a guy who's down on his luck, you know, and really has nothing. And he's talking about Sunday morning. What do most people do on Sunday morning? You know, they're with their family, they're going to church, whatever. This guy's, like, you know, sleepin' off a drunk on the sidewalk. You know, he's got nothing."
Therapists have been listening to the real-life Sunday blues for years. In fact, Sunday actually has a psychiatric disorder named after it.
"There's a famous diagnosis in the early 20th century, [when] the discipline and practice of psychology emerged: Sunday neurosis," historian Harline explains. "The person who couldn't bear the coming of Sunday, because it threw them out of their routine. Sunday is timeless and it's open. There isn't that schedule that you have the rest of the week. And some people can't bear that."
Not writer Judith Shulevitz. In her upcoming book "The Sabbath World," she argues just the opposite: She wants to keep Sundays timeless. In a world of 24/7 commerce, she's pushing for a return to laws that would shut down businesses one day a week.
"If everybody has to stop working, then they have to, sort of, pay attention to their family, to themselves, to their community," she argues.
"So in this campaign, where do you even start?" Charles Osgood asks.
"I don't pretend to have the answer in terms of legislation. I just start by trying to point out the benefits and to just say 'Let's remember the Sabbath. Let's remember what it did for us in the past. And let's think about what it could do for us in the future,'" Shulevitz explains.
"It's fast becoming like other days, because of the commercialization of Sunday," says Miller. "We're losing a day of rest. We're sort of 'on' all the time now. What effect does this have on our psyche? So I think we are losing something."
Which brings us back to the Puritans of the 1630s: their measures may now seem extreme, but what if they were actually onto something?
© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More From Sunday Morning
Add a Comment See all 32 Comments
- Memory suffers when we are, as Judith Shulevitz said, ?on all the time.?
Breathing space is vital to our ability to function in all areas of life, including our ability to remember. Yet most of us live hectic, over-busy, over-multi-tasking lives. Have you noticed how the cell phone even follows us into the bathroom?
As a professional speaker, the author of WHERE ARE MY KEYS? and creator of the LOVE Memory Method, I can certainly understand the thinking behind Judith Shulevitz?s statement that ?we are on all the time? and need some time off to reflect.
A whole day of rest and reflection each week sounds wonderful to me. But, in reality, we need to consciously create breathing space for ourselves every day, in both business and every day life.
Memory mishaps can be avoided just by taking a deep breath at every transition time. One of the examples I suggest at my memory workshops is: before you get out of the car, take a breath, and check to make sure you take the car keys with you. The breath you take prevents you from locking the car door with the keys inside!
A much worse case scenario is the man who locked his sleeping toddler in the car as he rushed to catch a train. True story. Luckily, a happy ending. A passer-by noticed the child, called the fire department, and the toddler was safely rescued. I?m thinking the man will always take a deep breath and check the back seat of the car before locking the car door with his son inside!
Yes, it takes special effort to create breathing spaces throughout our hectic days. And, I believe, it?s worth it!
Judy Marcus, Memory Lady, www.memorylady.com - Reply to this comment
- Despite religion and politics, Albert Camus in The Stranger speaks to the demeanor of a day without an agenda and a need to have a schedule for some. It is another twist on that day.
- Reply to this comment
- I am sure that many Christians and non-Christians alike saw your program this morning, and that many emotions were raised on both sides of the issue. As one who believes that the time will some come when a world wide Sunday law will be in effect and no man can buy or sell unless he worships according to this seemingly man made law, I first thought the segment was just going to warm people up to the idea of having a law so that the working man would be able to have Sunday?s off. You know just sort of warm him up to the idea. Put the frog in the water before you turn up the heat so to speak. But then when Ms. Judith Shulevitz spoke I was amazed there it was! God gave Adam and Eve the choice and He gives us a choice. Time is short. We are all His children and He wants every one of us to go home with Him. Are you sure that you know what your Bible says? Don?t depend on others dust it off and pray for guidance, your eternal life and that of you families are at stake.
- Reply to this comment
- I was disappointed to see no clip from the film "Gloomy Sunday" (1999) and no explanation of the BBC ban: http://www.phespirit.info/gloomysunday/article_01.htm
For that matter, it would have been nice to see scenes from other Sunday movies: "Chicken Every Sunday" (1949), "Village Sunday" (1960 documentary narrated by Jean Shepherd), "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" (1960) and Robert Frank's "OK End Here" (1963) about Sunday boredom.
Bhob @ http://potrzebie.blogspot.com - Reply to this comment
- My sunday ritual is to watch "Sunday Morning." Imagine my disappointment this morning when I discovered that tennis had bumped you. Thank you for having everything available online.
I agree with Ms. Schulevitz. Not for religious reasons, since I'm Buddhist, but because I think there should be one day a week where all commerce shuts down and people spend time with their families, in contemplative walks, reading, doing hobbies, or whatever else brings them peace of mind. - Reply to this comment
- I too am not a practicing sabbath keeper...but I believe Saturday is the true sabbath ...I was taught in the last days we would be forced to go to church on Sunday. I never believed that would be possible in todays world. But after the comments I heard today.....im not so sure.....
- Reply to this comment
- Of this particular Sunday Morning ... allegedly a celebration of the past 30 years of Sunday Morning
I remember 1/2 of it with Kuralt ... too bad he's only getting about 10% of the celebration This Sunday Morning - Reply to this comment
- Thanks for this article. It is quite comprehensive. However, the article would have been stronger if it had addressed the Bible Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment, "...six day shall thou labor and do all thy work, but the 7th day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God...."
Of course, Saturday is the sevent day of the week, and Sunday is the 1st day of the week, as you point out in your article. Christ, Paul, and the other apostles continued to kept the 7th day of the week after Christ's death. The Ten Commandments are eternal and applicable to all men of all ages. We cannot pick and choose the ones we choose to keep. Blessings, Fill - Reply to this comment
- It's a nice article and it's good to see people who realize that rest, spritual communion with God, and time with family are still extremely important factors when it comes to the well being of an individual or their family. However, there are two problems with this situation. First and foremost, according to the bible, God sanctioned Saturday (the seventh day of the week) as the holy day for rest from worldy business, communion with Him, and time to be spent with one's family. Their is nothing in the bible that even mentions Sunday as the day of rest that God changed from the seventh day of week.
Secondly, imposing Sunday worship is very dangerous to society as a whole because forced worship basically strips our freedom of religion and it also has turned out to be spiritual oppression according to European History. Furthermore, the Jewish, Christian-Sabbath-keeping, and atheist communities would fight this tooth and nail (with a very good argument if I may add).
Bottom line: Sunday legislation is not a good idea because (1)Saturday is the Sabbath, not Sunday; and (2)forced worship by legislation is detrimental to society because it strips the freedom of religion from the American people. - Reply to this comment
- The Osgood File is outstanding. Today I loved the story on Pheobe Snow. I thought she was deceased. It was great to hear she is back. I was sorry to hear of her situation. I most sincerly hope she continues to give her gifts to the world and receive as much in return.
Hersey - Reply to this comment
- Sunday is the first day of the week and nothing more. Saturday is the seventh day of the week, therefore signifying God's real day of rest. If folks would read their Bibles, they would see for themselves that Saturday is the Lord's day. Anytime there is talk of a Sunday legislation, people beware! We are indeed living in some very serious times.
- Reply to this comment
- Growing up Seventh Day Adventist, I was taught that one day the world would legislate the observance of Sunday as the Sabbath, and that those that refused to worship on Sunday would face imprisonment and even death. I seriously doubt this happening, at least not in my lifetime. So many people in our nation would be firmly against it, especially the Adventist and Jewish communities, not to mention Atheists. If we don't allow prayer in our schools, what makes us think we would allow national legislation such as this? I am not Adventist, however I don't agree with legislating any religious practices or morality. Keep freedom of religion, one of our founding principles, alive and well. (This includes anti gay legislation as well). The relationship 2 consenting adults share in no one's business but their own.
- Reply to this comment
- Sunday is not the Sabbath. Saturday is the Sabbath.
The Bible says there will be a power to try to change God''s law.
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws:
Psa 119:126 [It is] time for [thee], LORD, to work: [for] they have made void thy law.
The seal of God is the Sabbath. Exd 31:17 It [is] a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
Sunday is the mark of the beast. Revelation 13. - Reply to this comment
- It''s a great idea to take a day of the week off and not work. It originaed with God who rested after creating the world. It is God who asks us to rest, and if we don''t we are accountable to Him. The only good reason to obey God is because we love Him and trust that what He tells us to do is for our best good. If it is something enforced through legislation, where is the love? It''s merely a forced obedience, but not a very pleasant experience.
- Reply to this comment
- What Makes Sundays So Special?
*****************************
If you believe the Bible...Nothing!
It is one of the six days of the week mentioned in Ex. 20:9.
Ex. 20:8-10 tells that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.
-----------------------------------------------
If you don''t believe the Bible, then Sunday is the holy day of the week.
=================================================
So it simply depends on whether you follow God and His Word or not. - Reply to this comment
- Wow. Why would God force people to do anything? Doesn''t this seem a bit strange? The God I know and love doesn''t force anyone to do anything. God gives free choice to everyone. When he died on the cross, he gave eternal life to anyone who wants it. It is a gift.
There is only one Sabbath and it has nothing to do with a Jewish tradition. Gen 2:2-3 says God rested on the 7th day, set it aside and sanctified it. The Saturday is, was and always has been the Sabbath. It wasn''t nailed to the cross and it wasn''t done away with. Matt 5:18 says that not one jot or tittle will pass away from the law until Jesus comes again. That seems pretty clear to me. - Reply to this comment
- Wow. Why would God force people to do anything? Doesn''t this seem a bit strange? The God I know and love doesn''t force anyone to do anything. God gives free choice to everyone. When he died on the cross, he gave eternal life to anyone who wants it. It is a gift.
There is only one Sabbath and it has nothing to do with a Jewish tradition. Gen 2:2-3 says God rested on the 7th day, set it aside and sanctified it. The Saturday is, was and always has been the Sabbath. It wasn''t nailed to the cross and it wasn''t done away with. Matt 5:18 says that not one jot or tittle will pass away from the law until Jesus comes again. That seems pretty clear to me. - Reply to this comment
- Well said alingersoll1. It is a beautiful program and it''s nice to have a news program with positive stories even if only once a week. I can''t believe folks jumped on this forum with their dogmatic condescension. To those folks I say, Go to church if it makes you happy and leave the rest of us alone.
- Reply to this comment
- I definately see the innocence in the whole thing except when Ms Shulevitz said something about legislation .,,, then the rights of the citizens are in jeapody I could even let slide the calling of the first day of the week...the Sabbath..even though it is not but when you start talking about legislation you are treading on dangerous ground.
- Reply to this comment
- Come on, people; lighten-up! CBS Sunday Morning has from its inception been a delightful way to see our world and many of its peoples. Charles Osgood has been as wonderful a host as Charles Kuralt. It is journalism at its very best; informative, and entertaining. A great way to start a Sunday! THANK YOU! Let%u2019s go for another 30! I am 74, but I plan to be watching your 60th! And all in between!
- Reply to this comment
The road ahead in Afghanistan, and the crucial decision Obama faces.
