Passionate promise
A postcard-worthy town in Germany’s Bavarian Alps, Oberammergau made it into history books for an oath that villagers took 389 years ago. They promised God they would regularly perform the Passion of Christ if he saved them from the Black Plague. The town was spared and it was performed every year from 1634 to 1680, and every 10 years since, until the pandemic in 2020. But it’s back on this year until October, and being performed with just as much gusto as ever.