Rule chaos on Mother’s Day: What you need to know about compulsory tests and appointments

Where can I buy flowers?

Rule chaos on Mother’s Day: What you need to know about compulsory tests and appointments

Sunday, May 9th, 2021 | 12:31
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Flowers and chocolates have been Germans’ favorite gifts on Mother’s Day for almost nine decades. On the one hand, this causes controversy, but at the same time it also boosts the sales of florists and garden centers. Roses and tulips in particular are in great demand on Mother’s Day.

But this year, buying flowers is primarily causing uncertainty.

In over 300 districts (you can find a list at the end of the article) the federal emergency brake still applies this week. It brings with it, among other things, restrictions in everyday life and a night curfew. Because private meetings and shopping are affected, the rules also apply to Mother’s Day. Despite the many rules, the contact restrictions and the long queues in front of the supermarkets, there are still ways to get fresh flowers on time and without much effort.

However, the following also applies: those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered do not need to worry. For the most part, you no longer have to pay attention to restrictions such as a curfew or federal emergency brake. You are only required to keep a distance and mask.

Ordering flowers online: you have to pay attention to this

If you want to send a bouquet of flowers by online order and by courier service, you should note: Significantly higher shipping fees apply on Sundays than, for example, on Saturdays. Those who can live with the higher service fees (between 7.95 euros and 19.95 euros) should expect delivery between Sunday morning and afternoon, depending on the order situation.

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If you want to save money on delivery, you can arrange for a Saturday delivery. So that the flowers arrive on time at the recipient, the order should not go out until Friday, consumers should definitely book a Plus, Express or Premium service. These services usually cost between € 9.95 and € 14.95 and guarantee delivery the following day.

• Noble, creative and cheap bouquets are available here (offer): – Voucher code: “FOCUS15”

Delivery services that actually deliver food and drinks from the restaurant are now also delivering flowers for the first time. “Wolt is working for this with local florists who run their own flower shop,” a press spokesman told FOCUS Online. The offer is currently limited to Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt am Main. The specialty stores that offer their goods via the platform include Zinnober flowers, Florentine flowers or Dilek flowers. The company then delivers the order within 35 minutes.

Buying flowers locally: what do I have to pay attention to?

Garden centers, flower shops and florists are usually open without restrictions. Consumers do not need a negative test or an appointment to buy flowers in a flower shop or garden center.

However, it is still advisable to call the branch of your choice in advance and order a bouquet by telephone. At the weekend there could be longer waiting times. According to the law, only one customer per 20 square meters of sales area is allowed in the branches.

Exceptions are companies that are centrally located in shopping malls. Here it could be that you need a negative test at the main entrance. Hardware stores (without garden centers) or furniture stores usually have plants and flowers in their range shortly before Mother’s Day. In these cases, consumers need a negative corona test in order to shop there without restriction. From an incidence of over 150, only Click & Collect (collection) is possible in the store.

Can I buy flowers from Rewe, Aldi, Edeka or Lidl?

From Thursday, discount stores and supermarkets will increasingly have flowers and plants for Mother’s Day in their range. The prices vary between 1.99 euros (for the small bouquet of tulips) to 23.95 euros for the larger bouquet.

The supermarket giants Hit, V-Markt and Real also have gift baskets on Mother’s Day. The prices for roses in a pot with, for example, chocolates are between 8.99 euros and 30 euros.

For flowers at Aldi, Lidl, ReweTo be able to buy Edeka, Hit and Co., you don’t need a negative test or an appointment. However, you should expect long waiting times. It gets a bit crowded in the grocery store, especially on Saturday. Many consumers then also do their weekly shopping. FOCUS Online advises: So go shopping very early on Saturday (around 8 a.m.). Avoid shopping at noon (from 10 a.m.) and in the early afternoon (from 3 p.m.). Due to the great demand, flowers at Rewe, Edeka and Co. could already be sold out on Saturday at lunchtime.

Where can I buy flowers on Sunday?

Florists and flower shops are generally open on Sundays from 8 a.m. to around 1 p.m. There can be regional differences. Nevertheless, the following applies: On Mother’s Day, the opening hours of flower shops are extended nationwide, which are generally decided by a general decree of the responsible labor ministries.

There are usually flower vending machines where florists are closed. These are usually stocked with fresh bouquets from Saturday. Consumers select the flowers they want at the touch of a button, pay with cash or card and can then take the goods out through a lock window.

Supermarkets in train station passages, at airports or important transport hubs are also open on Sundays. There the range is also being expanded to include flowers.

Anyone who drives their car to refuel on Sundays is sure to find flowers there too. In addition to flower shops, petrol stations are an important point of contact for last-minute shoppers on Mother’s Day. However, you should expect higher prices here. For five roses they often pay more than 20 euros at the gas station.

Can I visit my parents on Mother’s Day?

In Germany there is no contact ban, just a contact restriction. And from this weekend only for those who have not been vaccinated and those who have not recovered.

This stipulates that a maximum of two households may meet. If you visit your parents, it is not a problem. However, if your parents invite two neighbors over for coffee and cake, they may be violating the current infection protection law. The exception is when the guests are fully vaccinated or are considered to have recovered.

If the parents live in the nursing home, you should clarify in advance which measures apply. In addition to a negative rapid test, wearing an FFP2 mask is often mandatory. Rapid tests are available on site or at the test stations that have been set up in your district.

Basically: Those who feel sick should stay at home. A self-test for lay people (carried out at home) cannot completely rule out the risk of infection, but it can remove a certain degree of uncertainty in the event of a negative result. In good weather you can also sit in the garden, the terrace or on the balcony.

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