Happy Reformation Day!

Halloween isn't the only celebration going on today.  October 31st is also Reformation Day, which is a holiday in several German states (although not in the one I live in, unfortunately).   On this day in 1517, a Catholic monk named Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church (Schlosskirche) in Wittenberg, marking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

The Castle Church ("Schlosskirche") in Wittenberg

top of the church tower; it reads "Ein Feste Burg ist unser Gott" (a mighty fortress is our God)--the title of Luther's most famous hymn.

The original door on which Luther had nailed the 95 Theses burned in 1760; King Friedrich Wilhelm IV had it replaced with a bronze door with the 95 Theses inscribed.

Luther's writings may have made him popular with the people, but not so much with the pope and the emperor.  Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church in 1521, but he continued to preach in the City Church (Stadtkirche) in Wittenberg. That year, the Stadtkirche went against the Catholic Church and held its first "Lutheran" (in German, Evangelisch) service. 

The Stadtkirche in Wittenberg where Martin Luther preached; it was also where he married and where his children were baptized.

It's hard to imagine the sleepy, picturesque town of Wittenberg fomenting any kind of fervor, religious or otherwise. I saw a number of tourists in Wittenberg this weekend, but there weren't any Reformationstag festivities. Surely something would be happening on the days before the actual Reformation Day, right? (Of course, I come from a place that, if people realized that could make money out of it, would turn Reformation Day into Reformation Month.)  To the Germans' credit--and most likely their economic detriment--they began setting up for Reformationstag only the afternoon before (Sunday, October 30th). 

workers setting up the Reformation Day celebration on the town square; the top of the city church (Stadtkirche) is in the background

near the entrance to the Lutherhaus, the Luther museum; it was originally a monastery, but later housed Luther and his family

It is a shame, though, because this town looks like it could use an economic boost.  I heard, though, that the town has a large celebration that lasts for several days in the summer: Luthers Hochzeit (Luther's wedding).

another day, another festival

Saturday I went to the Frankfurt flea market to buy a bicycle.  The Flohmarkt was very easy to find--it was in the same spot by the river as last weekend's Museumsuferfest. 


I am not sure why I was so determined to get a bicycle, since I don't think I haven't ridden on one that could leave the gym since I learned to drive.  I bought a old-fashioned city-bike that you would never catching me riding in the U.S.,  but that in Germany is very common.  I didn't realize just how old it was until I saw a sticker on it that read "Made in W. Germany".




My new old bike; the last bike I had with a basket also came with a banana seat and training wheels!

 
Originally I had intended to travel on my vintage ride to the Laternenfest in Bad Homburg, but since I am just getting used to the bike, I decided it would be best to take the train. That turned out to be a very good decision, because the rain started coming down in buckets.

downtown Bad Homburg after the downpour 

If the  #1 lesson I have learned in Germany is always carry an umbrella, then I guess lesson #2 should be never take a sunny day for granted...Friday and Saturday were both beautiful days to visit the festival, but I wanted to go to Bad Homburg on Sunday--and it rained almost the entire afternoon.

So, lesson learned...the sun is out, and I'm going outside!


 

Museumsuferfest

This weekend was the Museumsuferfest in Frankfurt, when Frankfurt's museums are all supposed to be open and free.  I was very curious about the festival since I had never been to one, and I had heard it was SO MUCH FUN...  I've heard museums described as interesting and enlightening, but never "SO MUCH FUN!", so I had to check it out.

Large tents were lined up all along both sides of the river and were full of foods from all over the world, full bars, live music, jewelry, crafts, scarves...it was kind-of like a state fair in the U.S. (only safer). It really was fun, but something was missing...Where are the museums?! Well, those large buildings with the lights off behind the large tents? Those were the museums.  Friday night was apparently not the right time to check those out.

On the way back to the train station, we walked in the rain through the old town area of Frankfurt.  This area is very small, but as we passed the Römerberg square lit up at night (and after a few Erdbeerbowles), I had one of those pinch-me moments, when I had to stop someone in the group and say, "Look at this! We live here!"



Römerberg during the day--it looks even better at night