【欧洲·比利时】比利时鲁汶年龄庆典剧 Leuven age set ritual repertoire（2011年）

鲁汶规定年龄的仪式是一个男人一生中的一个仪式，围绕着他50岁生日前的十年。对于生活在比利时鲁汶或其周边地区的男性来说，社会文化和慈善活动和仪式之旅从40岁开始，形成一个年龄组，并在亚伯拉罕日的50岁达到高潮，在城市中央公园围绕先知亚伯拉罕雕像举行庆祝活动。每个年龄组都选择自己的奖牌、旗帜和制服，并由一位“教父”抚养，他属于十年前形成的年龄组。成员们庆祝并拥抱十年乃至更久的生活。只有当最后一个成员去世时，年龄组才会消失。年龄组的特点是代际价值观，即开放、友谊、团结，以及对年龄组和城市的承诺。血统、等级或社会地位的差异并不重要，政治、哲学或宗教信仰也不重要。参加的唯一条件是成为一名男子并在同一年出生。然而，越来越多的女性作为教母和支持者参与其中。仪式激发了城市和成员的认同感和延续感，并已成为鲁汶城市文化的重要组成部分。今天，共有54个年龄组。

2011年度列入人类非物质文化遗产名录。

来源：联合国教科文组织亚太地区非物质文化遗产国际培训中心

The Leuven age set ritual repertoire is a rite of passage in a man’s life centring on the ten years leading up to his fiftieth birthday. For men living in or around Leuven, Belgium, a journey of socio-cultural and philanthropic activities and ceremonies commences at the age of forty with the forming of an age set and culminates at the age of fifty on Abraham Day, with a celebration in the city’s central park around the statue of the prophet Abraham. Each age set chooses its own medal, flag and uniform, and is fostered by a ‘godfather’, who belongs to an age set formed ten years before. The members celebrate and embrace life throughout the decade and beyond. An age set only disappears when its last member passes away. The age sets are characterized by intergenerational values of openness, friendship, solidarity and commitment to their age set and to the city. Differences of descent, rank or social status are of no importance, neither are political, philosophical or religious convictions. The only conditions for participation are to be a man and to be born in the same year. Women however increasingly take part as godmothers and supporters. The ritual stimulates identity and a sense of continuity for both the city and the members, and has become a strong part of Leuven’s urban culture. Today, fifty-four age sets exist.

Included in the list of human intangible cultural heritage in 2011.

Source: UNESCO International Training Center for intangible cultural heritage in the Asia Pacific Region