English majors, rejoice! Or, re-Joyce… for it is Bloomsday, the annual celebration of the James Joyce novel Ulysses, a large book whose narrative covers but one day: June 16, 1904, in Dublin, Ireland. Each 16th of June, folks all over the world (but especially in Dublin) follow the footsteps of Leopold Bloom, the main character in Ulysses. Bloomsday has become a journey and a literary celebration (and some cause for drinking, but this is nothing new amongst bookish types).
Joyce chose the date with purpose. June 16 was the date he first went out with the love of his life, Nora Barnacle. (Perhaps he was enthralled as much with the name Nora Barnacle as with the woman herself; what a lovely name, no?) Nora eventually became his wife.
But on his June 16, Leopold Bloom walked through Dublin, making his rounds… and each year, folks dress in Edwardian garb and follow his route, stopping at the same stops, making the same purchases, reliving the character’s journey through the city. Outside of Dublin, Bloomsday is more a day to remember and honor the great author who wrote the book, so don’t be surprised to see the visage of James Joyce today, especially if you are near a tavern or a bookstore. It could be his ghost, but more likely it is one of my kind, English majors, no doubt awkward and painfully shy, slipping behind the mask of someone we hope to emulate.
Image: James Joyce by Alex Ehrenzweig. Photographic print, 1915 [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons. Source: Beinecke Library, Yale University.