What Is Reformation Day And Why Is It Worth Celebrating?
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This sparked the beginning of The Reformation as his public protesting of the heresies in the Roman Catholic Church resulted in what many theologians believe to be the greatest transformation of Western society since the apostles first preached the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.
By translating the Bible into German, Luther’s rediscovery of salvation in Christ alone, through faith alone, by grace alone caught on as people could read the Gospel truth for the first time in their own language!
To help celebrate this wonderful anniversary in Church history, we’ve put together a pile of fun Reformation Day activities the whole family (and friends) can enjoy doing together! In this post you’ll find:
- A list of children and young adult books on the Reformation
- Songs that remind us of the true Gospel
- Fun food selections that bring the story of the Reformation home in a sweet way
- A few short videos that summarize the Reformation and what life was like during that period of history
- Reformation Day games and activities,
- …and even a few ideas on decorating the house or dressing up yourself for the occasion!
And, In Celebration Of The Reformation, I’ve put together a 17-page download for you to use in conjunction with the activities listed here, or as a stand alone resource.
In Celebration Of The Reformation is free to print.
- a review of the 5 Solas,
- Luther’s most famous hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
- a couple coloring pages (including the history behind Luther’s specially designed seal, The Luther Rose),
- a Reformation Word Search
- an opportunity for quill writing practice,
- and the 95 Theses to tape to the door and read!
You can download In Celebration Of The Reformation, here.
Reformation Day Book List For Children
- Reformation ABC’s: The People, Places And Things Of The Reformation by Stephen J. Nichols
- Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed The World by Paul L. Maier
- The Barber Who Wanted To Pray by R.C. Sproul
- Reformation Heroes by Diana Kleyn and Joel Beeke
- Martin Luther: What Should I Do? By Catherine Mackenzie
- Martin Luther by Simonetta Carr
- Johann Gutenberg And The Amazing Printing Press by Bruce Koscielniak
- Courage And Conviction: Chronicles of the Reformation Church by Brandon and Mindy Withrow
- Katharine Von Bora: The Morning Star of Whittenberg by Jenna and Channa Strackbein
- When Lightning Struck: The Story of Martin Luther by Danika Cooley
- In on His Fingers by Louise A Vernon
- Spy for The Night Riders by Dave And Neta Jackson
- Mr. Pipes And The Psalms And Hymns Of The Reformation by Douglas Bond
- Trial And Triumph: Stories From Church History by Richard Hannula
Reformation Day Songs
- A Mighty Fortress Is Our God by Martin Luther
- The Church’s One Foundation by S. J. Stone
- In Christ Alone by Stuart Townend by Stuart Townend
- Grace, Greater Than All Our Sin by Julia Johnston
Reformation Day Food
- “Diet of Worms” – dirt cake with gummy worms! We make this by layering chopped up brownies, chocolate pudding, Oreo cookies, Cool Whip, and gummy worms together several times in a large trifle dish.
- 95 Reeses taped to a door
- Chocolate coins (indulgences)
- The hammer strike that was heard around the world – you can make edible hammers by inserting a pretzel stick into a large marshmallow and dipping it in melted chocolate.
- Traditional German food for the Main Course: German Potato Salad, Sauerkraut, Schnitzel, Oktoberfest sausage, Rye Bread, Apple Strudel
Reformation Day Videos To Watch
- Torch Lighter DVD: The Martin Luther Story
- The Story of Martin Luther (Playmobil Animation)
- What Was The Reformation All About? by Ligonier Ministries
- Printing on a Gutenberg Press
- Luther: In Real Time (Podcast)
Reformation Day Games And Activities
- “Toss The Indulgences” – This is a fun way to remind children that we don’t need to pay for our sin; Jesus paid the price for all who trust in Him for salvation! All you need for this game is a waste basket and several crumpled up pieces of paper. Have the children stand several feet back from the waste basket and toss in their indulgences. Whoever gets the most in the basket, wins!
- Quill Writing Contest – To gain a greater appreciation for the effort Martin Luther put into translating the Bible in the German language, try writing out Romans 1: 16-17 using a feather dipped in ink or black paint (pg. 9 of In Celebration Of The Reformation.)
- Complete The Reformation Day Word Search (In Celebration Of The Reformation, pg. 5)
- Coloring Contest – You can find a picture of Martin Luther, and the Martin Luther Rose on pg. 6 and 7 of In Celebration Of The Reformation.
- Make a lavender sachet to ward off The Bubonic Plague
- Play Musical Chairs with Renaissance music
Reformation Day Decorating
Consider printing out Luther’s 95 Theses (you’ll find them written out on “parchment scrolls” on pages 10-15 of In Celebration Of The Reformation) and posting them on a door for all to read.
Luther lived during the late Medieval, early Elizabethan period. The thrift store is a gold mine for replica decor from this era! Think gothic, castles, knights, and fair maidens, ornate carvings in metal and wood, dragons, swords, candles, coins, lanterns, brass goblets, candelabras, velvety fabrics in rich colors.
Reformation Day Attire
Renaissance dress included beautiful gowns with longs skirts and trumpet sleeves for women. Men could dress as knights, monks or priests, court jesters, or the likes of Robin Hood! Girls can wear their hair in braids or an updo, and if your man doesn’t already have one, growing a beard is very on-point for the era!