Essay An ancient promise By Kip Cates	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
大昔からの約束 南ドイツにある人工5,000人ほどの小さな町、オーバーアマガウをご存じだろうか。ここでは、約400年前に当時の住民たちが神と交わした誓約を今も守り続け、10年に一度、町を挙げてキリスト教受難劇を上演するという。

How long can you keep a promise? For five days? Six weeks? Eight months? What about 400 years?

This is a true story about a village in Germany that has kept a promise for almost four centuries. The name of the village is Oberammergau. It's located near Munich, in the Alps mountains of Bavaria, and has a population of just 5,000 people.

The story starts in the year 1633, during the Thirty Years War. At that time, a deadly disease — bubonic plague — was spreading throughout Europe. In each village that the disease hit, hundreds of people died — old and young, men and women, children and babies. No one was safe.

As the plague drew nearer to their village, the people of Oberammergau began to panic. Each town that the plague hit had been devastated. When the disease reached their village, the first victims began to die. The situation seemed hopeless. What to do?

The villagers got together and made a grave decision. Their only hope, they believed, was to appeal to God himself. "Lord," they prayed. "Spare our village. Stop the killing. Keep our homes safe. If you grant our wish, we promise to perform a play about the life of Jesus Christ every 10 years until the end of time."

Then, a miracle happened. From that day on, not a single person died. The plague had passed them by. God had answered their prayers! In return, the villagers vowed to fulfill their promise.

The first Passion Play was performed the following year, in 1634. Since then, it's been held every 10 years. It's now world famous, attracting people from around the globe. The most recent performance was in 2010, attended by 500,000 spectators. That's half a million people!

The play itself lasts for seven hours. The villagers rehearse for half a year, then perform the play 100 times over a five-month season. Almost half the village — 2,000 people — take part as actors, musicians, technicians and stagehands. All the actors are local residents — teachers, waiters, housewives, students — who take on the role of Biblical characters every 10 years. The play includes famous scenes from the Bible, including the Last Supper and the Crucifixion of Christ.

How do I know about Oberammergau? Because I lived there! While traveling in Germany in 1978, I got a job at a ski hotel in the village and worked there for three months. Naturally, I was impressed to learn about its dramatic history, its sacred promise and its once-in-a-decade Passion Play.

For over 375 years, the people of Oberammergau have remained faithful to the pledge that their ancestors made to God. The next Passion Play will be held in the year 2020. Why not plan to see it? If you promise to attend, I will, too!

Shukan ST: NOVEMBER 30, 2012

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