Celebrating the Reformation Day in Germany: dates, celebration, conventional congratulations, greetings, traditions and customs on the Reformation Day
On this page you will find a description of the Reformation Day festivities in Germany. Celebration dates by year, customs and traditions common for Germany on the Reformation Day, a description of the origin, if known, as well as what congratulations & greetings the Germans use in their country on this holiday and their meaning. Here, you will also find photos of the attributes of the holiday or the celebration itself and other interesting information.
- Information on the page:
- Celebration dates
- Other names
- Status
- Wishes & greetings
- Traditions and customs
- Origin
- Photos
- Comments and questions
§ Dates for the Reformation Day celebration in Germany
The date of the Reformation Day celebration in Germany remains unchanged every year and falls on 31 October.
The Reformation Day celebration date in Germany:
Tuesday 31 October 2023 .
Below is a list of dates for celebrating the Reformation Day in Germany by year, provided that in previous and subsequent years the present practice and time of the holiday celebration is preserved:
- Monday, 31 October 2022 - Reformation Day 2022Germany Germany
- Tuesday, 31 October 2023 - Reformation Day 2023Germany Germany
- Thursday, 31 October 2024 - Reformation Day 2024Germany Germany
- Friday, 31 October 2025 - Reformation Day 2025Germany Germany
- Saturday, 31 October 2026 - Reformation Day 2026Germany Germany
§ Other names of the holiday
Holiday name in German: Reformationstag.
We are not aware of any other names for the Reformation Day in Germany.
§ Holiday status in the territory of Germany
The holiday is an official extra non-working day only in the following federated states (lands) of Germany:
- Brandenburg
- Bremen
- Hamburg
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Lower Saxony
- Saxony
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Thuringia
§ Wishes and congratulations, greetings on the Reformation Day in Germany
No information available.
§ Description of the Reformation Day celebration: customs and traditions:
This holiday or the anniversary of the European church reformation beginning is celebrated by the Evangelical and other Protestant churches. On this day, services are held in Protestant churches, with the focus on the remission of sins through faith, because it was this understanding of Christian values that served as the reason for the reformation. Besides, traditional songs are sung on this day, and the liturgical colour is red being the symbol of blood.
In many federated states of Germany, the Reformation Day is a public holiday, free from work and study.
In 2017, in connection with Reformation Day 500th anniversary, it was declared a nationwide holiday and a day off from work.
§ The origin of the Reformation Day holiday
Martin Luther, a theologian and Doctor of Divinity of Saxony, known for his translation of the Bible into German and Theses criticizing Catholicism and especially the sale of indulgences. The dispute document he wrote with 95 Theses is considered the beginning of the Reformation and Protestantism in Europe. He is believed to have nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517, although this is not known for certain.
It should be noted, however, that long before Martin Luther, educated people opposed the ways and customs of the church and criticized its doctrines and actions, as well as translated the Bible into the language of ordinary people – the vernacular. Many of them were accused of heresy by the church and executed.
§ Photos, pictures for the holiday
To enlarge and view the picture, click on it with the mouse button.
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Monument to Martin Luther near the Frauenkirche church in Dresden
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Wartburg Castle in Thuringia near Eisenach, where Martin Luther translated the New Testament
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Monument to Martin Luther near the Kaufmanskirche church in Erfurt
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