Mystery play

Mystery play, medieval religious drama based on biblical themes, chiefly those concerning the Nativity, the Passion, and the Resurrection. The form is closely related to that of the miracle play, which is generally based on nonbiblical material, for example, the saints' lives. The distinction between the 2 forms is not clear-cut, and some authorities refer to both as miracle plays. Mystery plays, which are liturgical in origin, can be ambitious in scale, treating the whole of spiritual history from the Creation to Judgment Day in vast cycles. Examples are the English York and Wakefield cycles, the French cycle Miracle of Notre Dame, and the Oberammergau Passion of Bavaria.