The 25th of December is the official holiday of Christmas in Germany. However, the holiday season in Germany is celebrated from late November through the New Year with various cultural traditions and festivities. The Christmas season in Germany is marked by Advent, a time of prayer and reflection leading up to the Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve, many families gather together for a traditional dinner and exchange gifts. The day after Christmas is known as St. Stephen's Day or Zweiter Weihnachtstag and is considered a public holiday in Germany.