Reformation Day 2025: A holiday that divides the nation!

Reformation Day 2025: A holiday that divides the nation!

There is a very special day in the calendar on October 31st: Reformation Day. This holiday commemorates Martin Luther's courageous posting of his theses on the castle church in Wittenberg in 1517. On this very day, Luther criticized the sale of indulgences and called for fundamental reforms in the Catholic Church. His theses were the beginning of a comprehensive renewal that brought about far-reaching changes in Europe - spiritually, socially and politically. Today, October 31st is celebrated as a public holiday in nine German states, including Brandenburg, Bremen and Saxony. In northern Germany, this holiday was introduced in 2018 to balance the holiday gap between northern and southern Germany and has since become firmly established.

While Reformation Day is considered a day off from work in the federal states mentioned, the situation is different in other regions. For example, Reformation Day remains a normal working day in North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Hesse. Instead, November 1st, All Saints Day, is celebrated here, which is anchored in Catholic tradition. Berlin decided to select International Women's Day on March 8th as a public holiday, which caused some debate. The decision for an additional public holiday is often seen as an interference with economic performance, which employers in the affected federal states view critically.

Meaning and traditions of Reformation Day

Reformation Day is of great importance for Protestant Christians. In addition to looking back on history, many communities celebrate this day with festive services, often in red, and emphasizing Luther's teachings. Lectures, concerts and special children's events are also part of the tradition. The so-called “Reformation rolls”, which depict Luther’s family coat of arms and are often served on the holiday, are particularly popular.

Martin Luther was not only a monk, but also a cultural innovator who translated the Bible into German and ensured that the Word of God became accessible to the general population. The impact of the Reformation was enormous: the Thirty Years' War, which raged from 1618 to 1648, is often seen as a direct result of the ecclesiastical disunity during this period. In addition, Reformation Day is also a day on which the question of freedom of conscience and people's moral ideas arises.

The Catholic Church views Reformation Day critically. In the predominantly Catholic parts of Germany, especially in the north, people reject this holiday. The Jewish community is also cautious, partly due to Luther's controversial statements that were directed against Judaism. The discussion about Reformation Day, its introduction and the associated holidays remains relevant today and shows the contemporaneity of Luther's work.

In 2025, as in previous years, Reformation Day will be celebrated in many federal states and will remain an important reference point for the Protestant Church and the discussion about the development of religious history. Martin Luther continues to be recognized as a central figure in German history, whose work continues to resonate today. This makes October 31st not just a date on the calendar, but a living part of German cultural history.

Let's take a look at the federal states and the respective regulations for Reformation Day:

For further information and a deeper insight into the background of Reformation Day, please refer to the articles from Sonntagsblatt, NDR and Nordbayern: Sunday paper, NDR, Northern Bavaria.