What do you know about "Reformation Day?"

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DavidFilmer

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In another thread, a longtime and respected Forum member claimed that “… once a year protestants of all stripes celebrate reformation day.”

I was raised protestant, and my wife was raised protestant, and neither of us have ever even heard of “Reformation Day,” much less celebrated it. You are now reading the very first thread in the Apologetics Forum to contain the phrase “Reformation Day” in the title, so it is not something that has had any dedicated discussion here in the past.

I looked it up on Wikipedia. It seems this event is celebrated mainly among people who are influenced largely by Lutheran theology, mainly people of German heritage. The United States does not have much German influence (outside of some regions of the Midwest), being predominantly influenced by British (largely Calvinist, but God Save Ireland) and Catholic theology.

I designed this thread to be a poll, but to design a statistically relevant poll is a daunting and confusing task (I am/not American, of Lutheran/Calvinist/etc theological influence, and I have/have not heard of Reformation Day). So I made the poll very simple, and ask that those who wish to reply include the particulars of their background if you please.
 
I voted for the second option, as should be obvious from my original post. I was raised protestant, in both the Episcopal and Methodist churches (depending on which divorced parent I was staying with each Sunday - I alternated weekends). My wife was raised Baptist. All of these faiths have strong Calvinist influence (and the Baptist faith is also strongly influenced by Huss and Zwingli). Not a lot of direct Lutheran influence there.

We are both lifelong citizens of the United States, and spent most of our youth in the Southeast. I spent a few years in Ohio, in the midst of many Germanic descendents, in which the Lutheran churches were the biggest around. Maybe those Lutherans celebrated Reformation Day, but I don’t ever recall hearing about it.
 
It was mentioned in some of the SoBap churches that I was associated with; we knew what it was. But it wasn’t “celebrated” as such.
 
Reformation day is unheard of here in the UK. I only became aware of it on international forums. Though I must say I like the idea
 
I was raised Protestant, in the south, and I never heard of it while I was growing up. I know I’ve seen references to it since (maybe here on CAF), but that’s it.
 
Our local private Christian School used to celebrate it.

Now it is a “Fall Holiday.”
 
I think it’s celebrated on October 31, Halloween, as some Protestants are uncomfortable with that holiday because of its supernatural connotations, and because of its Catholic associations (Hallowe’en = All Hallowed Eve, i.e., the Eve of All Saint’s Day, November 1). It’s a pretty new holiday and didn’t begin, to my knowledge, until fairly recently in America, as (I’ve been told) a protest against Halloween celebrations. Some Protestant churches around here hold Reformation Day parties where the kids dress up as biblical figures, Martin Luther, Calvin, etc., so they don’t feel left out of trick-or-treating.

As my Protestant friends always ask what the Biblical justification for different Catholic practices is, I’ve asked the same about “Reformation Day.” I’ve been told it is a “historical” celebration rather than a religious day.
 
I live in a dominately Lutheran area, the Pennsylvania Dutch (Deutsch/German) counties of southeast PA. So I’ve heard of it, and I’ve been in a ELCA Lutheran church on Reformation Sunday. Actually, in that instance, not much was said about it. And, I was raised in a Evangelical Methodist-based church myself, and we never had Reformation Sunday there.
 
Arizona_Mike said:
I think it’s celebrated on October 31, Halloween, as some Protestants are uncomfortable with that holiday because of its supernatural connotations, and because of its Catholic associations (Hallowe’en = All Hallowed Eve, i.e., the Eve of All Saint’s Day, November 1). It’s a pretty new holiday and didn’t begin, to my knowledge, until fairly recently in America, as as protest against Halloween celebrations. Some Protestant churches around here hold Reformation Day parties where the kids dress up as biblical figures, Martin Luther, Calvin, etc., so they don’t feel left out of trick-or-treating.

As my Protestant friends always ask what the Biblical justification for different Catholic practices is, I’ve asked the same about “Reformation Day.” I’ve been told it is a “historical” celebration rather than a religious day.
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The date for Reformation Sunday can vary by a few days, of course, though Reformation Day itself is October 31.

Mike, I don’t think the concerns some Protestants have with Halloween come from its association with a Catholic holy day— All Saint’s Day—but solely with its supposed supernatural occultic aspect.
 
October 31 was also the day Martin Luther nailed his theses to the door of that church, although some churches celebrate it on the nearest Sunday. Reformation day is a national holiday in 2 countries, Slovenia and Chile. In Chile it’s called Día Nacional de las Iglesias Evangélicas y Protestantes — National Day of the Evangelical and Protestant Churches.

Per Encyclopedia Britannica (remember that?),"Reformation Day, anniversary of the day Martin Luther is said to have posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany (October 31, 1517), later identified by Protestants as the beginning of the Reformation. (See Researcher’s Note: The posting of the theses.) The European Lutheran territorial churches at first commemorated the Reformation on various days, among them the anniversary of Luther’s birth (November 10), his death (February 18), and presentation of the Augsburg Confession (June 25). The centennial celebrations of 1617 focussed attention on October 31; in the sesquicentennial year (1667) Elector John George II decreed this date as annual Reformation Day in Saxony. German Lutheran and Union territorial churches have come gradually to follow this example and specify October 31 or the Sunday following (or preceding).

Among English-speaking Lutherans, the churches that use the Lutheran Liturgy (1948) keep October 31 as Reformation Day; those using the Service Book and Hymnal (1958) observe October 31 as Reformation Day and may keep the preceding Sunday as Reformation Sunday. The liturgical colour is red. Many churches in the Reformed and the Evangelical traditions also mark the day, often with special services focussed on the Reformation and its effects."

So apparently a Protestant religious celebration with no biblical warrant. Hmmm…:rolleyes:
AbideWithMe said:
I believe the date can vary by a few days, to the best of my knowledge.

Mike, I don’t think the concerns some Protestants have with Halloween come from its association with a Catholic holy day— All Saint’s Day—but solely with its supposed supernatural occultic aspect.
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Well, the Puritans always fought against it, as they did Christmas celebrations, which can’t be said to have occult connotations. This was largely because Halloween was an Irish holiday, and thus, “Papist.” This Protestant website makes reference to that: thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/10/31/9-things-you-should-know-about-halloween-and-reformation-day/

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/files/2012/10/Lutherpumpkin.jpg

Actually, after reading the following, I’d like to see one of these just to watch the kid’s games:

"MidWay Baptist Church in Cookeville, Tenn., for example, had a guest speaker address the significance of that turning-point in history on Sunday, but is also celebrating tonight with a party – and costumes are permitted.

The church is providing games for children like “Pin the 95 Reeses to the Door” and the gummy worm based “A Diet of Worms” (referring to an Imperial Diet, or assembly, Luther participated in). Someone dressed as one of Luther’s opponents, John Tetzel, will be walking around the event trying to sell partygoers indulgences, and articles about Luther and the Reformation’s lasting impact will be made available for those who want to learn more."

Read more at christianpost.com/news/reformation-day-celebrations-commence-on-halloween-84219/#pIKsFHOmv7gcpJOz.99
 
DavidFilmer said:
In another thread, a longtime and respected Forum member claimed that “… once a year protestants of all stripes celebrate reformation day.”

I was raised protestant, and my wife was raised protestant, and neither of us have ever even heard of “Reformation Day,” much less celebrated it. You are now reading the very first thread in the Apologetics Forum to contain the phrase “Reformation Day” in the title, so it is not something that has had any dedicated discussion here in the past.

I looked it up on Wikipedia. It seems this event is celebrated mainly among people who are influenced largely by Lutheran theology, mainly people of German heritage. The United States does not have much German influence (outside of some regions of the Midwest), being predominantly influenced by British (largely Calvinist, but God Save Ireland) and Catholic theology.

I designed this thread to be a poll, but to design a statistically relevant poll is a daunting and confusing task (I am/not American, of Lutheran/Calvinist/etc theological influence, and I have/have not heard of Reformation Day). So I made the poll very simple, and ask that those who wish to reply include the particulars of their background if you please.
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I was raised Methodist until converting at the age of 44. I have never heard of Reformation day.
 
I had never heard of it until I met my wife. Her family, in Ohio, celebrates this “Reformation Day” every year. They are not Lutheran (they visit a variety of services…mostly Presbytarian or Baptist).
 
DavidFilmer said:
In another thread, a longtime and respected Forum member claimed that “… once a year protestants of all stripes celebrate reformation day.”

I was raised protestant, and my wife was raised protestant, and neither of us have ever even heard of “Reformation Day,” much less celebrated it. You are now reading the very first thread in the Apologetics Forum to contain the phrase “Reformation Day” in the title, so it is not something that has had any dedicated discussion here in the past.

I looked it up on Wikipedia. It seems this event is celebrated mainly among people who are influenced largely by Lutheran theology, mainly people of German heritage. The United States does not have much German influence (outside of some regions of the Midwest), being predominantly influenced by British (largely Calvinist, but God Save Ireland) and Catholic theology.

I designed this thread to be a poll, but to design a statistically relevant poll is a daunting and confusing task (I am/not American, of Lutheran/Calvinist/etc theological influence, and I have/have not heard of Reformation Day). So I made the poll very simple, and ask that those who wish to reply include the particulars of their background if you please.
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The Lutheran celebration “Reformation Day” commemorates the nailing of the 95 Theses on the Wittenburg church door on the eve of All Saints Day, October 31, 1517. Typically among Lutherans, that is considered the beginning of the Reformation. Usually it is commemorated on the Sunday prior to Oct 31st, so that All Saints Day can be commemorated on the Sunday following it.

Reformation Sunday is one of the festivals that one may find a variance from the usual lectionary, the homily is often about justification by faith or a related topic, and the music almost always includes “A Mighty Fortress”.

The reason other non-Catholic Christian communions do not observe Reformation Day is probably because their communion has no direct link to Luther or Lutheranism.

As a life-long Lutheran, this is one of my favorite periods in the Church year - Reformation Day and All Saints Day.

Jon

Jon
 
I grew up in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) [sometimes referred to as Campbellites] in SE Missouri. I had never heard of “Reformation Day” until reading this thread. Nor did I hear about it in the required religion classes I took at the Christian college I attended. I am now happily married into a German Catholic family who has also never heard of this.
 
Reformation Day is a public holiday celebrated within five states of Germany that remembers the religious reformation of Europe. These five German states include Brandenburg, Macklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. Reformation Day is celebrated every year on the 31st of October. This holiday remebers the religious reformation that was led by the Luthern and Reformed chuches that was sparked by the monk Martin Luther when he nailed his “95 Theses” that called for religious reformation within the church.
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Reformation Day is also celebrated as a civic holiday in Slovenia and as a national holiday in Chile.
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Seems like someone celebrates it.
 
I live in the Bible Belt (S.W.Mo) and I have never heard any protestants speak of it. I think I read about it somewhere, but don’t know much about it and don’t care.😉
 
Arizona_Mike said:
So apparently a Protestant religious celebration with no biblical warrant. Hmmm…:rolleyes:
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I somehow overlooked that aspect… but you’re right.

Maybe this is part of the reason why many people from Calvinist protestant traditions have never heard of this “celebration.” Calvinists owe much to Luther, but Calvin was much more a stickler for strict Biblical orthodoxy (to the point of forbidding musical instruments that were not mentioned in the Bible - no organs, etc).

Most protestants in the United States descend from Calvin-influenced theology.
 
Thinkingaloud said:
Reformation day is unheard of here in the UK. I only became aware of it on international forums. Though I must say I like the idea
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Near as I can tell, there are two major splits from the Catholic Church in Europe:
  1. Luther breaks away from the Church and begins the “Reformation”.
  2. Henry VIII leaves the Church so he can get remarried.
No. 1 isn’t the British tradition, so it’s not surprising Reformation Day doesn’t get much play in the UK.
 
Many of the Lutheran churches around here celebrate it and it’s a fairly big deal.

My Catholic friend is married to a Lutheran fellow, and when they first got married they had an argument about it. Seems he wanted her to participate in the Reformation Sunday activities at his church with him and could not understand why she refused:D

We laugh about it now, but he truly had not put two and two together back then. I think he thought everybody celebrated it.
 
I grew up Baptist and had never heard of Reformation Day until I was an adult (and a Catholic). Probably true about the Lutheran connection, but also a number of Protestant churches have been gradually developing some hints of liturgy in recent years, and the keeping of a liturgical calendar might therefore be becoming more common.

Sally
 
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