The local paper has one of those “This Day in History” columns. In today’s column, the first item is
Someone tell me that’s not significant. (And don’t tell me you didn’t expect it. No one expected it. The compiler of the column didn’t expect it, even after they wrote it.)
Nitpicking your nitpick: it’d actually be the 13th. The difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars is currently 13 days.
If he wanted people to read them, he’d post on the door. The door probably functioned as a community bulletin board. He may have sent copies to other people, too.
Luther didn’t initially want the public to read it. He saw the problem as a theological issue that should be addressed within the religious hierarchy and which didn’t involve laymen. He figured that once he pointed out what he saw as obvious truths, the Church would correct the errors and maybe write him a nice thank you note for bringing them to their attention.