Boxing Day, known as 'Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag' in Germany, is celebrated every year on December 26th. The holiday is recognized in Germany as a 'Second Christmas Day', providing an extra day of holiday cheer and relaxation following the Christmas holiday. The holiday shares similarities with the traditions of Boxing Day as celebrated in the British Commonwealth but also has a unique set of rituals and customs that distinctly set it apart.
Germany's Boxing Day is characterized by gatherings of families and friends, and the continuance of the spirit of giving and sharing that defines the Christmas season. Many Germans take this opportunity to volunteer or donate to the less fortunate, mirroring the British tradition from which Boxing Day originated - when employers would gift their staff and service providers with Christmas boxes. Being a public holiday, most Germans have the day off work and schools are closed, allowing people to extend their Christmas celebrations.
Moreover, Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag also holds religious significance in Germany. Many Germans continue the celebrations of the holiday season by attending church services on this day. This is also the day when the song 'Stille Nacht' (Silent Night) is traditionally sung for the first time, having been composed on the night of December 26, 1818. In essence, Boxing Day, or Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag, represents not just an extra holiday in Germany, but a unique blend of British tradition, charity, and German religious and cultural practices.