7 Good Friday traditions: Wearing black, Passion plays and hot cross buns
1. Passion plays
One popular way to observe Good Friday is through a Passion play, a performance usually held outdoors that reenacts the final hours of Jesus’ life, from His arrest to His crucifixion.
Passion plays are said to have originated in Europe during the Middle Ages. These dramatic performances are widely held throughout modern Christendom.
Some of the most popular include the play performed in Trafalgar Square, London and the elaborate procession held in Bensheim, Germany.
The village of Oberammergau in the Bavarian Alps is said to have the longest tradition, having performed the production regularly since 1634.
“It remains an entirely local production, with villagers taking all the parts and singing in the chorus. Since 1930, roofed seats have protected the audience from the weather. The production runs from May through September,” according to Britannica.
