The Oberammergau Passion Play CANCELLED for 2020..postponed to 2022

For only the second time since its first performance in 1634, the Oberammergau Passion Play, scheduled for 2020, has been cancelled.

Only two days ago we posted the news that the district administration of Garmisch-Partenkirchen (where Oberammergau is located) had prohibited the opening performance of the play originally planned for May 16, 2020. This was due to the current extremely troubling situation caused by the corona pandemic.

The officials postponed the opening to May 21, just 5 days later.

Now we’ve received word that the play has been totally cancelled by the local government and moved to 2022.

We find this ironic, since the play had its origins in 1632, when local villagers promised to put on the play if God would spare them from the plague that was currently ravaging the area. The village was spared, and the play has been performed every 10 years since then  (with the exception of 1940, when the play was cancelled due to World War II).  Unfortunately we have to add another exception: the year 2020.

This will undoubtedly be a blow to many travel companies, and a great disappointment to those who planned to attend.  We need to pray for those who work for these travel companies as they scramble to help people re-book or get refunds.