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Reformation Day 2025: public holiday or working day? That's the rule!
On October 31, 2025, Hesse will remain a regular working day, while other federal states celebrate Reformation Day.
Reformation Day 2025: public holiday or working day? That's the rule!
On October 31, 2025, Reformation Day will be celebrated as a public holiday in nine federal states in Germany. Shops, schools and offices remain closed in these regions: Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia in the list of federal states that pay this. Mercury reports that in the remaining seven federal states - Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland - October 31 is a regular working day, as All Saints' Day is celebrated in most of them.
The introduction of Reformation Day as a public holiday in Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein since 2018 aims to correct the imbalance between northern and southern Germany. At the same time, Reformation Day has been recognized as a public holiday in the five eastern German states since reunification in 1990. But what's behind it? The day commemorates Martin Luther's posting of his theses on October 31, 1517, which is considered to be the trigger for the Protestant Reformation. With his 95 theses, Luther criticized the Catholic Church's practice of indulgences and thus initiated a profound change within Christianity.
The meaning of Reformation Day
Reformation Day, as it is known internationally, is not only important for Protestants. This celebration marks the beginning of a movement that revolutionized the foundations of the faith. With his theses, Luther wanted to initiate a theology of justification through faith, which caused deep historical waves. Historians also assume that he chose the day in order to attract more attention due to the great public interest on Reformation Day - a strategic move that cannot be clearly proven. Wikipedia emphasizes that the 95 theses were quickly distributed throughout Europe, setting off a wave of movement that continues to have an impact today.
Today's celebrations vary by state and denomination, but many Protestant churches use this day for ecumenical services. They aim to promote dialogue between different denominations. Christianity.com emphasizes that the debate on the doctrine of justification by faith and the authority of Scripture is the focus of many reflections. Reformation Day is more than just a holiday - it is an annual occasion for reflection and exchange about the principles of the faith.
Regional differences and statements
The differences between the federal states also reflect denominational influences. While Reformation Day is well established in the Protestant strongholds of northern Germany, it often remains untouched in the predominantly Catholic regions of southern Germany and is only noticed on the eve of All Saints' Day, November 1st, which is celebrated.
Reformation Day is not only important in Germany; Celebrations also take place in countries such as Chile and Switzerland, although they are not always legally recognized there. Germany itself reaffirmed the importance of the holiday in 2017 through various initiatives for joint celebrations between Lutheran and Catholic communities. Today it is seen primarily as an opportunity to reflect on the origins of the Protestant Reformation and to deepen the principles of the faith.
Overall, Reformation Day is a distinctive date in the German calendar that honors the history, faith and diversity of Protestant traditions while also strengthening bridges between denominations.