Did you know that the performances of the Passion of Cervera are the oldest in Europe?

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Did you know that the performances of the Passion of Cervera are the oldest in Europe?

Oficina Comarcal de la Segarra - Pg. Jaume Balmes, 3
25200, Cervera
Web: http://www.lasegarra.org/
Email: turisme@ccsegarra.cat
973 531 300 / 973 531 303

 

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  • The liturgical work "Crist Misteri de Passió" (Christ, Mystery of the Passion) has been performed in Cervera (La Segarra) since the year 1481 and, according to research carried out by La Sorbonne University of Paris, this is one of the oldest enactments of its type. 
     
    At the end of the 15th century, it was habitual to stage a performance of the Mystery of the Passion at the church of Santa Maria. In its origins, the priests themselves assumed all of the character roles, including the female ones.
     
    The Council of Trent (1545-1563) prohibited staging any non-liturgical act inside a temple. However, when this ruling came into force, performances of The Passion continued to be staged outside the local church. The Passion was initially performed in the Plaça de la Sebolleria and later at other locations. The actors were then no longer priests, but the local people. 
     
    With the arrival of the 20th century, the performances moved inside the theatres, until the Spanish Civil War produced an enforced break in the staging of these traditional manifestations of popular religious fervour. Once the Civil War was over, Cervera (La Segarra) decided to recover its most dearly loved customs and traditions, which included staging the Mystery of the Passion. Two young local poets, Emili Rabell and Josep Mª Sarrate, wrote a new script that was both faithful to the scriptures and also in line with the latest theatre techniques. "Cristo, Misterio de Pasión" was again staged during Lent in 1940, with tremendous success
     
    Since then, success has been constant, although the text has remained almost the same, with only minor modifications. A Catalan version of The Passion has also been incorporated and the staging of the work has undergone innumerable improvements as it has become a lively, modern spectacle, offering a spectacular and realistic vision of the traditional performance of The Passion of Cervera.
     
    Year after year, thousands of spectators enjoy these more than 5 centuries of popular tradition: a unique spectacle that features over 300 actors on stage.