Wittenberg celebrates 500 years of Luther's wedding with a big city festival!

Wittenberg celebrates 500 years of Luther's wedding with a big city festival!

Today, June 13, 2025, the city of Wittenberg celebrates the 500th anniversary of the marriage of Martin Luther and his wife Katharina von Bora with loud jubilation. With the celebrations in full swing, the historic event proves to be a great way to honor the legacy of these two important figures.

The city has come up with a lot of ideas for the anniversary. Unlike in previous years, when nuns from the Nimbschen monastery marched onto the market square, this year the celebrations began with a cozy gathering that was opened by Mayor Torsten Zubehör. At 4 p.m. Luther and Katharina emerged from the Katharinenportal of the Luther House and were welcomed by numerous guests in the courtyard. MZ.de reports that the first well-wishers, including Wittenberg craftsmen and Luther's parents, were able to wish the two of them good luck. Guests from Wittenberg's twin towns mingled with the audience and enjoyed the cheerful atmosphere.

A historical overview

In the run-up to the celebrations, there was an exciting historical overview by Thomas T. Müller, the director of the Luther Memorials, who focused on the important events of the time. It is mentioned that the marriage between Martin and Katharina was not only a personal statement, but also a political one. Luther's opponents expressed concerns about the marriage at the time and his fellow campaigner Philipp Melanchthon was not even present, which gave the wedding a controversial note. Domradio.de highlights that Katharina had previously rejected several marriage offers before choosing Luther, which underlines the importance of this decision.

The celebrations in Wittenberg are all about the unforgettable connection between the two: a 500-meter-long wedding table, a medieval market and an exhibition of Katharina's wedding ring from the Leipzig City Museum, which can be seen until August 10th, are part of the program. The wedding ring bears interesting motifs, including Christ's instruments of torture, and is said to have probably been given to Martin Luther in 1523 by the Danish King Christian II.

The role of Catherine

The marriage between Martin and Katharina was characterized by an interesting dynamic. While Luther is often viewed as the main protagonist of the Reformation, it is not unmentioned that Catherine also played an important role. She was not only the guardian of the household, but also took care of the finances and the children, while Luther gave her a lot of freedom. In this context, the sharp separation of roles within marriage is also addressed, which certainly contradicts modernist views. Katharina is described as an equal partner whose influence on Luther should not be underestimated. Would there have been the famous dinner speeches if she hadn't looked after the table? NationalGeographic.de sums it up: “The Reformation was not a one-man project.”

Today in Wittenberg reflects the complexity of the relationship between Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora and does not limit it to the romantic component. Instead, it proves to be a tribute to the strong partnership that began 500 years ago and helped shape the history of the Reformation.