In 1663 during plague and devastating war when it looked as if they might not survive another Winter the villagers of this alpine village vowed to perform a passion play every ten years.  A passion play is a play following Jesus in his last few days leading up to his death.  It is something the whole village does.  It is both an active thing for somebody to perform, but also a meditation of who Jesus is and what he does for us.  The first passion play in the village of Oberammergau was in 1634. At first it was just for those of the village only, but it was performed with such devotion and thoroughness that by the middle of the eighteenth century spectators from far and wide started to come.  It now attracts people from all over the globe and dominates the lives of the people of this now holy village like no other on earth.  The whole village is dedicated to the passion (that is the saving death) of Jesus Christ.  The play takes three years to prepare, and involves everybody whether on stage or off stage.  Next year 2000 villagers (half of the total) will perform in the play for the 41st time.