Reformation Day in Austria ― Date, History, and Details
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History of Reformation Day in Austria and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
Reformation Day is a public holiday in Austria which commemorates the start of the Protestant Reformation. It is celebrated on October 31, the same day as Halloween. The holiday celebrates the work of Martin Luther, who is credited with starting the Reformation when he posted his 95 Theses on the door of the All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517.
The Reformation was a movement within Christianity that sought to reform the church’s teachings and practices. It led to the split of the Western Christian church into Protestant and Catholic branches. In Austria, the Reformation began in the early 1500s when some Austrian nobles started to question the authority of the Pope and the Catholic Church.
The first Protestant church in Austria was founded in 1524 in the city of Vienna. By the mid-16th century, around 10% of Austrians were Protestant. However, the Counter-Reformation, a movement within the Catholic Church to reform itself and stop the spread of Protestantism, began in the late 16th century. It was successful in halting the growth of Protestantism in Austria.
Today, Protestants make up only around 2% of Austria’s population. Reformation Day is not as widely celebrated in Austria as it is in other Protestant countries such as Germany and Switzerland. Nevertheless, some events are held to mark the occasion, such as concerts, lectures, and exhibitions.