Boxing Day Description
Boxing Day (Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag, literally 'Second Christmas Day') on December 26th is a nationwide public holiday across all 16 German federal states. It extends the Christmas celebration into a second day, traditionally used for visiting the other side of the family, relaxing, or attending further church services. In many German families, December 25th is spent with one side of the family (e.g., the mother's relatives) and December 26th with the other (the father's relatives). Government offices, banks, schools, and all retail shops remain closed. Public transport operates on a Sunday/holiday schedule, similar to Christmas Day. Many Germans use the period between Christmas and New Year (known as 'zwischen den Jahren') for winter vacations, with ski resorts in the Alps being particularly busy. Restaurants serving holiday meals are typically booked well in advance. The day is also known as Stefanitag (St. Stephen's Day) in religious contexts, particularly in Catholic regions like Bavaria.
