"Will Reformation Replace All Hallowed Eve?”

In Jesus Holy Name October 27, 2024

Text: Romans 3:23 Redeemer

“Will Reformation Replace All Hallowed Eve?”

This year Lutherans around the world will be celebrating Reformation while the rest of the world will be celebrating an ancient traditions we call Halloween. I doubt that the historic event of the Reformation will replace costumes and candy.

We are not very inclined to think of Martin Luther as a hymn-writer, and yet, the great Reformer also had the gift of music and wrote some 37 hymns including "Away in a manger." By 1523—a mere six years after the posting of the Ninety-Five Theses—Luther was committed to providing German-language hymns for the people to sing and was actively seeking gifted poets to work with him on this project. Luther would often say to his friends: “let us defy the devil and sing a hymn.”

Luther’s hymn “Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” was the first hymn, and we are all familiar with his most famous hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” He promoted singing hymns in the home and in public worship.

Almost everybody here knows that you throw rice at weddings, but not everybody knows why. That's because throwing rice is an old custom whose origins, at least for most of us, is lost in the mists of time. We know such customs; we practice them; but we may not remember their original reason or rationale. So why do we throw rice at weddings?

Throwing rice is an ancient symbol of fertility. It is a way for well-wishing guests to encourage the bride and groom to have lots of kids. We want them to have a lots of children because we want to be grandparents. Of course, at today's weddings we throw instant rice. I’m not sure what that means?

I will bet that almost every family here will celebrate the old custom of Samhain. (Sow-an) It’s an old Celtic custom that almost everybody observes which began in the year 835. October 31st, All Hallowed Eve, is the Celtic celebration at the conclusion of summer and at the beginning of Winter. During the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, (sow-an) people dressed in costumes made from animal heads and skins to ward off evil spirits and hide from ghosts. That's why you give candy to those ghostly and goblin children who show up at your door. Without knowing, without understanding, you are celebrating an old Celtic custom that's a thousand years old.

In America, we call it Halloween. In Mexico and Central America it is called “The Day of the Dead”. In the American culture everything gets mixed up so we call it Halloween, rather than the Eve of All Saints Day.

The Roman Catholic Church under Pope Gregory III (731-741 AD) established November 1st as All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day, It was the church’s attempt to change the meaning of an old custom. All Saints Day is a day set aside to honor all saints of the church, therefore the night before became All Hallows Eve.

Just last week Colleen and I were in Oakdale, Ca., the cowboy town, famous for the Oakdale Rodeo. Stores were decorated. We saw lots of women walking from store-to-store shopping, all dressed costumes. Their long black dresses and pointed black hats told us it was almost Halloween.

They were not dressed up to celebrate Reformation. My guess is, that when your children put on their princess costumes, their spiderman costumes, they are not going to a Reformation parade. What parent in their right mind is going to decorate their child in a homemade hymn book to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran hymnal.

As Lutheran Christians we know that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. These 95 debating points changed the world. He intentionally chose the evening of October 31st, 1517 “All Hallow Eve” because he knew that the next day, “All Saints Day” churches would be packed. It was a day of holy obligation, a way to merit God’s grace.

The Prime Minister of Germany's State of Thuringia notes that 500 years have passed since Luther nailed his 95 Thesis to the church door, and she acknowledges that although “many things have changed... one truth remains (we human beings) are still sinners in need of-a-Savior. “

Luther, like everyone in his generation, knew that; he was a sinner. He tried, desperately not to be one, but he was. He fasted until he fainted; he confessed his transgressions until his priest got bored with the endless and repetitious list of wrongdoings. Luther knew he was a sinner, even as he knew a perfect God was committed to punishing men like himself. Fear of Divine anger became Luther's motivating force to try to please God with perfect behavior.