One of the great dreams of my life has been to attend the famous Oberammergau Passion Play in the little town of Oberammergau, Germany. This legendary play was performed every 10 years from 1634 to 1674 and then every decade since 1680 with only a handful of exceptions. There was a year it was cancelled because of theological issues with the Catholic Church, and again because of the two World Wars, but it’s been remarkably consistent since the 17th century. 
The legend says that during the Black Death in Europe, a traveller brought the disease into the village of Oberammergau, and in a panic, the town leaders gathered for a prayer meeting. They vowed to God that if He would protect their village, they would perform a passion play every ten years for the rest of time. The story goes that no one else in the village contracted the disease, so the villagers kept their word.
Passion plays to celebrate the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus happened all over Europe in the Middle Ages and some continue today, but Oberammergau has emerged as the most famous and epic of them all.
It was scheduled for 2021, and Kathleen and I bought tickets, but COVID caused them to postpone it for a year so we attended this past summer in 2022.
The production is epic, and involves over 2,000 people (about half the village population) including actors, stage technicians, and musicians. To even be considered for a role in the play, you must be a native of Oberammergau or have lived there for at least 20 years.
And it’s not a quick experience. The play is approximately five and a half hours with a dinner break of three hours in the middle.
But it was powerful, and I would encourage you to consider attending it. We planned a vacation around it in Germany and Switzerland and ended the trip in Oberammergau to see the play. The village is also famous for their woodworkers, and shops throughout the town are filled with extraordinary examples of the art.
There are numerous passion plays still in performance around the world, but when you study the history, the legacy, the controversies, and the impact of Oberammergau, you’ll see why it’s become so famous around the globe.
You have about nine years left, so start planning!
