Skip to content
Christian feast day

Reformation Day

Reformation Day (Reformationstag) on October 31 is a public holiday in the Protestant-leaning states of northern and eastern Germany. It commemorates Luther's 1517 theses.

Where does it apply?

Statutory in 9 federal states.

In the coming years

  • 202531. OctFriday
  • 202631. OctSaturday
  • 202731. OctSunday
  • 202831. OctTuesday
  • 202931. OctWednesday

What's being celebrated?

Reformation Day (Reformationstag) on October 31 is a public holiday in the Protestant-leaning states of northern and eastern Germany. It commemorates Luther's 1517 theses.

In the five new federal states (BB, MV, SN, ST, TH) and, since the 2018 reform, also in Hamburg, Bremen, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein — 9 of 16 states.

After the 500th-anniversary observance in 2017, HB, HH, NI and SH added October 31 permanently as a state holiday.

Frequently asked questions

Is Reformation Day a holiday in Bavaria?
No — Bavaria is Catholic-majority and the day is a regular workday there.

Related holidays