Reformation Day Activities

Costumes:

Dressing in costumes is a major part of celebrating Reformation Day. Renaissance/Medieval costumes. Think: princesses, knights (think armor of God), Robin Hood, maidens, etc. I saw a knights kit at Target (in the toy section) for $12. And with all the Halloween costumes in stores, you should be able to find a costume relatively cheap and easily.

You can also go for a traditional monk costume. I made Jack's out a brown turtleneck and a piece of cording. 

More on Anne's costume here...Every little girl loves dressing up like a princess and this is a perfect opportunity.

Capes are also very fun and reformation-ish. Simplicity Pattern 5927, is a very easy and simple pattern to follow. This pattern requires very little sewing when you make it with felt (what the pattern actually calls for). You pretty much cut out the cape and the hood and then just sew those two pieces together. Add some ribbons ties and you are done. Plus, with felt recently on sale at Joann's these cost only about $8-9 to make (including ribbon). I altered it a bit for Anne's version (above) to include a lining and the strap and vintage button across the top. I used red velour for hers. Note: Red is the liturgical color of Reformation Day.

And, here I am in full garb with Anne (a Reformation princess) and Jack (Martin Luther).

Decorations and Hammers

Red is the color of Reformation Day (representing the Holy Spirit and also martyrs of the Christian Church). I set the coffee table up with red linens and Anne's little red chairs. Matt helped me make these little wooden hammers, which the girls used to "hammer" on the doors around the house (just as Luther nailed the 95 thesis on the church door). The also used them to knock on doors when we went to give/receive treats.

The girls made stained glass windows, like those that had to be replaced after riots and fighting broke out in Germany during this time. They also wrote with quills, as Luther did when he translated the Latin Bible to German so the common man could read it.

Transcribe the Bible

In Martin Luther's time, the Bible was only available in Latin--a language very few could read. While he was in hiding (many people wanted to kill him), he translated the Bible into German. This way, the common man would be able to personally read and reflect on God's Word, instead of relying on priests and scholars.

Have your little one "transcribe" the Bible by copying an entire page or just a chapter of the Bible in their own handwriting. Or just have them write one verse. Or, if they don't know how to write (like mine), they can just pretend to write. 

To make it more fun, let them use a quill or feather. And let them use a fun color of watered-down poster paint.

Reformation Day PDFS:

A color sheet with the "Luther Rose" and a verse. The Luther Rose was an important symbol for the day because it was a seal that Martin Luther wore as a ring. The Luther Rose consists of a black cross, on a red heart. The heart is set in the middle of a white rose. The white rose is placed on a field of heavenly blue. Encircling this field is a ring of gold.

And, a printout of Reformation Facts and Activity Ideas.\

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If you are interested, you can also read my first post about celebrating Reformation Day in 2008.

 

Comments

[Amy]

LOVE the costumes! I've been looking for Reformation Day ideas and you've got some great ones =)

[Desiré]

Thanks for the great ideas! I'm going to do some of them with my boys this year and share your post on my blog!