At the foot of the Bavarian Alps is the city of Oberammergau, Germany, known for its stunning Passion Play.
The unique cultural event, has been performed for more than 380 years and in 2020, the event will once again take place in its 42nd iteration.
The once-a-decade play is a five-hour long performance that includes a three-hour feast. It tells the story of Jesus and draws throngs of visitors from around the world to the region during the summer months.
The Passion Play dates back to 1633 when the plague came to the town of Oberammergau. As a promise to God if He spared them from the effects of the disease, it has been performed ever since.
In 1680, it began to officially take place at the beginning of each decade or years that end in zero. The play was performed in 1934 on the 300th anniversary and in 1984 on the 350th anniversary of the event.
Planning for 2020 began in 2015 when the Oberammergau Council appointed the production team for the upcoming performance.
Ticket sales began in September when packages were made available for purchase to travel resellers.
Casting starts in 2019 and, in the spring, the names of the actors are revealed, including those playing major roles such as Jesus, Mary, Peter, Judas, Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas. There are 120 additional speaking parts in the play and there are more than 2,000 participants, all of whom are Oberammergau villagers, meaning that about half of the town is enlisted in the event in some way.
Participants must have been born in Oberammergau or have lived in the city for at least 20 years. By Ash Wednesday, the chosen actors begin to let their hair grow and men let their beards grow as part of the "Beard and Hair Edict," a longstanding tradition that provides another layer of authenticity.
The 2020 Passion Play will begin on May 16, 2020, and run through October 5.
Tour operators have started announcing 2020 trips that will include Oberammergau. Travelers can find guided vacations and river cruises that will include the Passion Play in their itineraries.
For those who are visiting Europe independently, packages which include tickets to Oberammergau and an overnight stay in the city will go on sale in 2018 and individual ticket sales will commence in 2019.
Those who want to pre-book early can sign up now to create a non-binding reservation.
For those visiting Oberammergau before the play beings, there is an exhibition on the event in the Passion Play Theater, where guests can see original costumes and watch historic films. Guided, 45-minute tours take place daily at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
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