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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.

How to Host a Reformation Day Party in your Homeschool. Ideas for Reformation Day studies, a Martin Luther lapbook, games, songs, food, and crafts for your Reformation Celebration in your homeschool or homeschool co-op.

Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through affiliate links in this post.

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).

How to Host a Reformation Day Celebration: ideas for games, costumes, activities #ReformationDay #celebration #homeschooling

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!

Shooting Animals in the Forest with a Crossbow for Reformation Day Celebration

Alms Giving

The kids threw pennies into a collection box.

Alms Giving activity for Reformation Day Celebration

Nailing the 95 Theses to the Door

Nailing the 95 Theses to the door at Wittenberg for Reformation Day Celebration - 1

Nailing the 95 Theses to the door at Wittenberg for Reformation Day Celebration - 2

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).

Making Stained Glass for Reformation Day Celebration

They also made a Sachet (enclosed Potpourri in a circle of cloth with a pretty ribbon to tie it closed).

Making Herb Sachets for Reformation Day Celebration

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.

Making Illuminated Letters for Reformation Day Celebration

Making Illuminated Letters for Reformation Day Celebration 1

Working in the Artisans Studio at the Reformation Day Celebration - 1

Working in the Artisans Studio at the Reformation Day Celebration - 2

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.

Reformation Day Celebration costumes

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.

Singing at our Reformation Day Celebration

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 (14 mini booklets included)

Martin Luther and the Reformation Lapbook

The Martin Luther and the Reformation Lapbook

Purchase it here.

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Other Awesome Reformation Day Celebration Resources:

When Lightning Struck, historical fiction for teens about Martin Luther, perfect for Reformation Day, free discussion guide

Fun project about Martin Luther and the 95 Theses from Homeschool in the Woods
Reformation Day printable pack to learn about Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation

When Lightning Struck now available

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10 Comments

  1. 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!

  2. Awesome!!! We are Lutheran and just finished studying Luther in history, too. Ooohhhh….this would be a fun youth activity at church!!

  3. What a fun way to learn together! Thanks for sharing this post at Favorite Resources.

  4. 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! 🙂

  5. 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. :-/

    1. 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.

      1. 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

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