Reformation day and Halloween: Two festivals, a fascinating duel!

Reformation day and Halloween: Two festivals, a fascinating duel!

Gransee, Deutschland - On October 31, it will be creepy and solemn again at the same time, because the Reformation Day and Halloween fall on the same day! While children throw themselves into eerie costumes and collect sweets, adults commemorate one of the most important events in church history. Halloween, also known as "All Hallows Eve", has its roots in the Catholic high festival of All Saints and reminds of the spirits of the deceased. The connection between these two occasions is fascinating and shows that heaven and hell lie closer together than you think.

The roots of Halloween

Halloween dates from the 9th century when the Celts celebrated the evening before All Saints' Day. On this day they believed that the boundaries between the worlds are blurred and that one can communicate with the dead. Isabell Pawletta, a volunteer preacher, sees parallels between Halloween and Luther's teachings that shape the Reformation Day. Luther himself spoke of the fact that people always change between heaven and hell. Halloween has developed into a colorful festival over the years that has been celebrated in Germany since the 1990s, with ghosts, pumpkins and creepy costumes.

But while the children are transforming into terrible figures, the police in Berlin will also be on the hat. After incidents in the past, in which Böller was thrown and pyrotechnics were ignited, the police presence in the city is reinforced. Last year around 1,000 emergency services were used to ensure security.

commercial explosion for Halloween

The enthusiasm for Halloween is also reflected in the sales figures. According to a current study, a record sales of 540 million euros are expected for 2024! Costumes, make -up and creepy decoration are in great demand and show how much the festival has commercialized in recent decades. While some celebrate the Reformation Day as a day of reflection, the others have fun in the eerily atmosphere of Halloween.