How to Host a Reformation Day Celebration
Are you thinking about celebrating Reformation Day Celebration on October 31 this year?
Reformation Day is the day we remember the start of the Protestant Reformation when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses onto the church door at Wittenberg, Germany. A few years ago, we did a unit study on Martin Luther and the Reformation, culminating in a Reformation Celebration on the night of October 31.
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Reformation Day Celebration:
On October 31 a few years ago we celebrated Reformation Day with a party at our house. Four families joined us for a really fun time. I set up our basement with different games and activities for the kids. All of them related to Martin Luther’s life–either specifically to the Reformation or the time that he lived in (1483-1500s).
Hunting in the Forest
We had Hunting in the Forest. The kids shot a plastic crossbow with suction cup darts at a poster of forest animals–a big hit with the boys!
Alms Giving
The kids threw pennies into a collection box.
Nailing the 95 Theses to the Door
Translating Greek Verses to English
We also had a quiz about Martin Luther’s life for the kids to fill out.
Making Stained Glass and a Sachet
In the Artisan’s Studio, the kids could make Stained Glass (put tissue paper over Clear Con-Tact Paper on a white paper plate with the middle cut out).
They also made a Sachet (enclosed Potpourri in a circle of cloth with a pretty ribbon to tie it closed).
and Illuminated Letters of a Scripture verse like the monks used to do when copying Scripture. Use pretty Metallic Gel Pens to decorate the letters.
Games
At the last minute, I got the idea to play Musical Chairs. The music we used was Chant and Renaissance dance music! I was amazed at how much the kids enjoyed it! They played over and over!
Costumes
My kids dressed up in costumes from the Middle Ages/ Renaissance: peasant maidens, knights, and a monk.
Music
We also had a group time where we sang “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” and some other hymns and praise songs. My kids had memorized Romans 1:17, Ephesians 2:8-9, and Romans 10:9-10 and shared those with everyone.
Food and Decorations
We didn’t get fancy with food or decorations, but we might do that in the future! It would be fun to make food that was commonly eaten during the Reformation times.
Reformation Day Celebration Packet from Doorposts
Many of these Reformation Day Celebration ideas came from Doorpost’s Reformation Packet.
Below is a video from Doorposts so you can get some more great ideas for your Reformation Day Celebration.
Unit Study on Martin Luther and the Reformation:
Martin Luther and the Reformation Lapbook
The Martin Luther and the Reformation Lapbook
Purchase it here.
Want to try a free preview first? Download this:
Other Awesome Reformation Day Celebration Resources:
- Free Discussion Guide for When Lightning Struck, historical fiction for teens about Martin Luther
- Get this amazing project from Homeschool in the Woods:
- Reformation Day Music Lesson from the course Music Lessons for Holidays & Special Days
- “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” hymn study
- Reformation Day Printable Pack
I LOVE this! But you probably already knew that =) I’m going to steal a bunch of your ideas if I can get anybody to come over to have a party with us. Two families are interested, but it is hard being a week night this year, so we will see what happens. Thank you so much for sharing these great ideas with us at Trivium Tuesdays!
Awesome!!! We are Lutheran and just finished studying Luther in history, too. Ooohhhh….this would be a fun youth activity at church!!
What a fun way to learn together! Thanks for sharing this post at Favorite Resources.
I love this idea! I’ve already talked with a couple of people from church and we’re going to do our own reformation party. Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
Great ideas! We are hoping to do this for this coming year. Just curious, did you make the costumes or if not where did you get them? I’ve been looking, but not finding much. :-/
I did make the costumes. I’ll see if I can do a post on them sometime. But just quickly, the monk costume is a brown towel with a small circle cut from the center to slip over the head. We actually put that circle on top of his head and it looked like the monk hair-style! But it had disappeared by the time we took the picture. The girls costumes were just dresses with a vest on top. I didn’t even sew the vest (had a newborn at the time) but just cut a sleeveless vest shape and little slits to weave in a ribbon. Then I cut a triangle for their hair scarves. The boys tunics were homemade and bought at a Middle Ages fair. Very simple. They just slip over the head and have a cross design made of felt glued to the front. Ties on the side.
Oh, yes. And a rope for a belt in the monk costume. And simple aprons for the girls. Again, no sewing for these costumes!
–Gena