By Peter O'Neill
The celebration of James Joyce and his works is highlighted on Bloomsday (June 16) each year. This is the day, back in 1904, on which James Joyce and Nora Barnacle first went walking in Ringsend, Dublin and was later immortalized in Ulysses. Dublin's Bloomsday celebrations include readings, re-enactments and performances from Ulysses in various locations throughout the city.
Traditional Dublin celebrations originated in 1954 when a small band of Dublin writers set out in horse-drawn cabs from the Tower in Sandycove with the intention of visiting all the locations of the novel. Their Odyssey met shipwreck in a series of city pubs long before its completion, but it set a pattern for future celebrations. Today wandering Joyceans go to the places where Ulysses is set, to reconstruct the events of the novel through readings, dramatizations and chance encounters.
Like their predecessors and many of the characters of Ulysses, they find much feasting and singing along the way and are likely to end up in good company. The essential items of equipment are an imaginative and joyous approach to the events of Ulysses, and a copy of the book itself. It has also become customary to dress up, usually (but not necessarily) in something approximating to 1904 costume.
Bloomsday events are not, of course, unique to Dublin and take place in an increasing number of cities around the world.
In Brazil Bloomsday is celebrated in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Maria and Porto Alegre in Rio Grande do Sul, Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais and Florianopolis in Santa Catarina.
São Paulo (18th year)
Finnegans Pub, Rua Cristinao Vianna, 358 - Pinheiros Tel.: (11) 3062-3232
On June 16, from 19h30, with readings from Joyce‘s Ulysses by Prof. Caetano Galindo. Will also include live music by traditional Irish bank Irish Dreams.
Casa das Rosas, Av. Paulista 37 (50 seats)
On June 18 at 20h00. Showing of Sean Walsh´s film, Bloom
Rio de Janeiro-RJ (7th year)
Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil.
On June 16, from 18h30. Joyce International exhibition (until June 19) and talk by Prof. Ana Maria Bulhões (UNI-RIO) & Prof. Alfredo Grieco (PUC-RIO).
Livraria da Travessa , Ipanema,
On 16 June from 19h00. Launch of a new translation of James Joyce´s Ulysses by Bernardina da Silveira Pinheiro. Music: Alex Bentes on the Uillean Pipes.
Full program updates and futher information at Links between Brazil & Ireland
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