Reformation Day

Reformation Day is a Protestant <a href="/facts/Christianity/nKyJHlqq">Christian</a> religious holiday celebrated on <a href="/facts/31_October/unFJnkkY">31 October</a> in remembrance of the onset of the <a href="/facts/Reformation/9ClEbhnL">Reformation</a>.
According to <a href="/facts/Philip_Melanchthon/hQtzHQjQ">Philip Melanchthon</a>, 31 October 1517 was the day <a href="/facts/Martin_Luther/7nwEeL0L">Martin Luther</a> nailed his <a href="/facts/Ninety-five_Theses/smoQ4TYw">Ninety-five Theses</a> on the door of the <a href="/facts/All_Saints%2527_Church%2c_Wittenberg/4n2lutg1">All Saints' Church</a> in <a href="/facts/Wittenberg/0N15FbG7">Wittenberg</a>, <a href="/facts/Electorate_of_Saxony/QEt6bMrs">Electorate of Saxony</a>, in the <a href="/facts/Holy_Roman_Empire/6mdobnXN">Holy Roman Empire</a>. Historians and other experts on the subject argue that Luther may have chosen <a href="/facts/Halloween/NRxarMjA">All Hallows' Eve</a> on purpose to get the attention of common people, although that has never been proven. Available data suggest that 31 October was the day when <a href="/facts/Martin_Luther/7nwEeL0L">Luther</a> sent his work to <a href="/facts/Albert_of_Brandenburg/26bFn4PS">Albert of Brandenburg</a>, the <a href="/facts/Archbishop_of_Mainz/IwfhuKWp">Archbishop of Mainz</a>. This has been verified; it is now regarded as the start of the Reformation alongside the unconfirmed (Melanchthon appears to be the only source for that) nailing of the <a href="/facts/Ninety-five_Theses/smoQ4TYw">Ninety-five Theses/grievances</a> to All Saints' Church's door on the same date.
The holiday is significant for the <a href="/facts/Lutheran/L4pMlRcS">Lutheran</a> and <a href="/facts/Calvinist/l95AzJtn">Reformed</a> Churches, although other <a href="/facts/Protestantism/NXja4K3g">Protestant</a> communities also tend to commemorate the day. The <a href="/facts/Catholic_Church/rJ4F4gqH">Roman Catholic Church</a> recognized it only recently, and often sends its official representatives in <a href="/facts/Ecumenism/1Yyzv1zM">ecumenical spirit</a> to various commemoration events held by Protestants. It is lawfully and officially recognized in some <a href="/facts/States_of_Germany/hIpruCeX">states of Germany</a> and sovereign countries of <a href="/facts/Slovenia/EcYU22W4">Slovenia</a> and <a href="/facts/Chile/uEyTfEcx">Chile</a>. In addition, countries like <a href="/facts/Switzerland/LcGuxeTe">Switzerland</a> and <a href="/facts/Austria/4qWIMIyc">Austria</a> provide specifics in laws pertaining to <a href="/facts/Protestantism/NXja4K3g">Protestant</a> churches, while not officially proclaiming it a nationwide <a href="/facts/Holy_day_of_obligation/Evddxo61">holiday</a>.

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Reformation Day