The Passion Play was a phenomenon that occurred at Glastonbury Grove approximately every five years in the month of April.
History[]
The origin of the Passion Play is unknown and it never occurred on a precise day. On days where the Passion Play would take place, it would begin after dark among the trees in Glastonbury Grove. Six figures would appear, wielding swords, chrysanthemums, crucifixes, and chalices and a guardian would appear at a gate. The phenomenon would last through the night until sunlight, causing "good" to vanquish "evil."
The Passion Play never occurred the night before a cloudy day. Rumor also persisted that the event was sponsored by the Bookhouse Boys.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
The illustrative picture is an extract from an 1847 caricature from le Magasin Pittoresque.[2]