Legal Definitions - blue laws

Definition: Blue laws are state or local laws that prohibit certain activities, such as entertainment, sports, or drinking on Sundays, to honor the Christian Sabbath. The term "blue" was slang for puritanical, and these laws were employed in the New England colonies controlled by the Puritans who kept the Sabbath sacred. Although most blue laws have been repealed, some vestiges remain informally.

• A blue law in some states prohibits the sale of alcohol on Sundays.
• Another blue law in certain areas prohibits hunting on Sundays.
• In some places, there are restrictions on the types of businesses that can operate on Sundays.

These examples illustrate how blue laws restrict certain activities on Sundays to honor the Christian Sabbath. The prohibition of alcohol sales on Sundays is a common example of a blue law that is still in effect in some states. Similarly, the restriction on hunting on Sundays is another example of a blue law that is still enforced in some areas. The restrictions on businesses operating on Sundays also reflect the puritanical origins of blue laws.