Edited by the Social Galactic Pro-Reformation Chat Group from entries on Infogalatic.
Reformation Day is a religious holiday celebrated on October 31, alongside All Hallows’ Eve, in remembrance of the Reformation. It is celebrated among Protestants, especially by Lutheran and Reformed church communities.
In the United States, churches often move the holiday, called Reformation Sunday, so it falls on the Sunday on or before October 31.
(ABOVE) The All Saints’ Church door in Wittenberg, Germany, where Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the 31st of October 1517, sparking the Reformation. All Saints¢ Church is also sometimes called “Castle Church.”
Luther’s public, church-door posting was his response to the actions of Johann Tetzel, a Dominican friar sent to Germany to raise money by selling indulgences. Indulgences were the target of attacks by Luther and other theologians as a reaction to the money-making excesses of The Church. Eventually, the practice was discontinued.
According to Philipp Melanchthon, writing in 1546, Luther “wrote theses on indulgences and posted them on the church of All Saints on 31 October 1517”, an event now seen as sparking the Protestant Reformation.
The 95 Theses were quickly translated from Latin into German, printed, and widely copied. Within two weeks the theses spread throughout Germany; within two months throughout Europe. Luther’s writings circulated widely, reaching France, England, and Italy as early as 1519. Students thronged to Wittenberg to hear Luther speak.
The following passage, traditionally interpreted as referring to Luther, is scripture commonly quoted and preached on during Reformation Day services.
Revelation 14:6
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” King James Version (KJV)
The liturgical color of the day is red, which represents the Holy Spirit and the Martyrs of the Christian Church. Luther’s hymn, A Mighty Fortress is our God is traditionally sung on this day. It is also traditional in some shools to hold a Reformation Day play or pageant that acts out scenes from the life of Martin Luther.
In this year of our Lord 2025, Happy Reformation Day!
A Bach composition for the Reformation Day holiday:
J.S. Bach – Cantata BWV 79 “Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild”
Featured Image: Portrait of Martin Luther color engraving based on Holbein’s painting. Artist Unknown