When Halloween rolls around, there’s a good chance someone will throw in a “Happy reformation day!” at the end of a conversation. Today does commemorate a significant event in the history of every protestant church worldwide. Nearly 500 years ago, an average monk made a statement that changed history.

Read about it here, and take a look through the archives if you have a minute. An excerpt:

What better reason for remembering this day. No, not Halloween. Rather, October 31st, and specifically October 31, 1517, as it marks the date of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.  On this date, an obscure Augustinian monk by the name of Martin Luther nailed ninety-five theses to the church door in Wittenburg, because that was the usual custom of advertisement for the people’s attention.  It was in effect a public bulletin board. Luther nailed the document up at noon sharp because that was the time of the most frequent feasts.

Full article: This Day in Presbyterian History