Martin Luther: toys, beer and a sing-along

The German monk who symbolizes the Protestant Reformation movement also has his very own toy figurine made by popular German toy set maker Playmobil. When the tiny plastic Luther clutching a German-language Bible and a quill hit the market last year, it sold out within days. To the chagrin of Playmobil fans, the toymakers decided against adding a mini Wartburg castle.

A project for a thousand voices: The German Protestant Church and the Creative Church Foundation initiated the pop oratorio "Luther" for church, gospel, pop and school choirs nationwide - anyone, really, who likes to sing. It premiered in Dortmund exactly a year ago, and tours stadiums across Germany in 2017.

Wittenberg abounds with Luther-branded souvenirs, including biographies, coloring books, socks, pens, cookies, frisbees - and beer. Martin Luther was a sociable guy with a penchant for the hoppy beverage. Lucky for him, his wife Katharina von Bora learned the art of brewing when she was a nun in a convent - and her home-made brand is said to have been Luther's favorite beer.

Traditional German weather forecasting devices show a little woman and a little man figurine - one moves out of the house as an indicator of sunshine, the other of rain. This artisan's limited edition replaces the couple with Pope Leo X and his adversary - Martin Luther, bible in hand.

Here's a read that stands out among the many tomes on the life of the German theologian: the comic book "At Luther's Table in Wittenberg - Martin Luther as a Monk, Reformer and Family Man." Author Thomas Dahms and illustrator Tobias Wagner tell the story of Martin Luther with speech bubbles in just 40 pages.

This 2003 historical drama about the life of Martin Luther stars a handsome Joseph Fiennes as the Reformer. In Germany, some cinemas are currently showing the film as a rerun. It ends with the words, what happened at Augsburg pushed open the door of religious freedom.