Passion Play
Preserved but no longer current.
A development of the medieval mystery play with especial reference to the story of Our Lord's passion and death. The best known survival of such plays, which were common in France in the 14th century, is the Oberammergau Passion Play which takes place every ten years. In 1633 the Black Death swept over the village of Oberammergau; when it abated the inhabitants vowed to enact the scenes of the Passion every ten years.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Passion Play” mean?
A development of the medieval mystery play with especial reference to the story of Our Lord's passion and death. The best known survival of such plays, which were common in France in the 14th century, is the Oberammergau Passion Play which takes place every ten years. In 1633 the Black Death swept over the village of Oberammergau; when it abated the inhabitants vowed to enact the scenes of the Passion every ten years.
Is “Passion Play” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.