Since writing the article on Oberammergau Passion Play 2020, I have found out that the passion play has now been postponed until 2022, due to the Coronavirus outbreak. I have not yet been informed by Leger, the tour operator who organised the trip, what they intend to do about it, or if I will get a refund!
OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY 2020
Nestling against the banks of the Ammer River in the
district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Southern Bavaria, is the
beautiful German town of Oberammergau. Famed for its woodcarvers and
woodcarvings, this small town of around 5,000 inhabitants has also
found worldwide fame for another reason.
During the early part of the 17th century,
this part of Europe was gripped in the clutches of a deathly
epidemic, Bubonic plague was ravaging the area. Untreated, this
devastating disease can kill anywhere between 30% and 90% of those
infected, even with treatment it can claim approximately 10% of
sufferers.
Facing these horrendous odds of survival, the townsfolk
of Oberammergau prayed to God, pleading with him to spare them from
this terrifying illness. They made a vow to God that if their town
was spared from the plague, they would perform a passion play once
every ten years as a means of thanks.
The story goes, that having made their vow, there were
no more deaths in the town, and no more new cases of the plague. The
townsfolk, being true to their word, staged the first passion play in
1634, and then every ten years thereafter, in years ending in a zero.
The only exceptions to this rule was in 1920, when it was postponed
until 1922 due to postwar economic conditions, and 1940 when the play
was cancelled due to the second world war. There have also been
additional plays in 1934 and 1984 to commemorate the 300th
and 350th anniversaries.
The play involves over 2,000 actors, singers,
instrumentalists and technicians, all of whom must be residents of
the town. For a year prior to the performance, the male actors grow
their hair and beards in order that it will look authentic.
Rehearsals are also performed during this period, and most of the
town is involved in one way or another. The play is performed from
mid May to early October, with around half a million visitors from
all over the world descending on this tiny Bavarian town to witness
these spectacular performances every decade.
How ironic that the 2020 performance should be
overshadowed by the global pandemic that is Covid 19. This
devastating new Corona virus, which is fast sweeping the world, has
the ability to cause immense economic damage and lead to the loss of
hundreds of thousands of lives. This brings me to a personal note,
having wished to attend the passion play for many years, my wife and
I finally made the decision, last August, to book our seats for the
final play of 2020. At that time no-one had even heard of Covid 19,
it didn't exist, and nobody could have predicted the events of 2020.
So what happens now? Will the passion play go ahead? If
it does, is it safe to go? So many questions and so few answers. We
are in unprecedented times, the future is uncertain and not even the
experts have all the answers. However, as a race we will get through
this, we always do.
I am sure the townsfolk of Oberammergau are once again
praying to God to be spared from this latest plague, let us all pray
that their prayers are answered, for us all.
