Once eve ry ten years the tiny town of Oberammergau in Bavaria Germany stages the musical drama “The Passion Play” which is about the suffering, death and Resurrection of Jesus. This is the longest running play in history with the first performance having taken place in 1634.
The “Passion Play” has a rich history. In 1633 the black plague swept through Europe killing millions of people. Despite their vigilance the town of Oberammergau, located in the Bavarian Alps, fell victim to the plague. The townspeople prayed and made an oath to God, spare them from further deaths and they would perform a play about Jesus’ death and Resurrection every ten years. There were no more deaths from the plague and now the descendants of the original villagers carry on the tradition of performing the “Passion Play” every ten years in Oberammergau.
The play is performed outdoors, runs from May to October and has a cast of over 2,000 actors, singers, instrumentalists and stage technicians. It is world renown for its musical presentation and costumes. The “Passion Play” is an all day event, running for about six hours. In 2010, the play will be performed for the 41st time.
What is unique about the play is that only villagers who have lived in Obermmergau for at least 20 year and children can perform in the play. At least a third of the village’s 5000 inhabitants participate in the production.
Although Obermmergau is known mainly for the “Passion Play”, it is also a picturesque Bavarian village where almost all the houses are painted with Bavarian mofits and décor making them works of art. Wood carving is the main industry in the village and hand made sculptures of local and religious history is readily available for purchase. There is also a wood carving museum and opportunities to take work carving courses.
Obermmergau also has miles of mountain hiking trails, winter sports facilities and one of “Europe’s toughest and steepest ski slopes”. It is a traditional Bavarian village surrounded by the mountain atmosphere of the Alps.
If you would like to attend the 2010 “Passion Play”, it would be a good idea to book early as this is a popular pilgrimage for Christians of all denominations. Several tour companies offer packages to Obermmergau to attend the “Passion Play” or you can travel on your own.
Taking in a perform of the “Passion Play” in Obermmergau, Germany would be an uplifting experience for everyone. Seeped in centuries old tradition combined with modern day presentation, the “Passion Play” is truly a unique way to thank God for sparing their ancestors from the Black Plague. So if you are looking for a religious experience or just want to attend the oldest running play in history, a visit to Obermmergau in the summer of 2010 is a vacation must.
