Bloomsday is an annual ramble where participants read through various parts of James Joyce’s Ulysses. Bloomsday is named after Leopold Bloom, the protagonist of the Irish author James Joyce’s seminal work, Ulysses, which was set entirely on June 16, 1904. Many cities worldwide have been holding Bloomsday celebrations for decades. The Worcester version involves readings in several locations approximating the sites the novel’s characters visited in their ramble through Dublin on June 16, 1904.
Who, Why, Where, and When?
Who?
The day features a changing cast of characters—much like Ulysses. Everyone is welcome to read or listen. Some participants drop in for one or two sessions, and those with more stamina (and free time) will make a day and night of it. Although lectures and performances are incorporated into the Worcester programming leading up to June 16, Bloomsday is a celebration of participatory readings—and that’s half the fun!
Why?
WCPA celebrates the spoken word, the written word, and the literary history of Worcester – or makes history by starting a new tradition like the Bloomsday Worcester Ramble. Sometimes, one of our members is passionate about a particular author or literary event like Bloomsday, and the entire community is welcome to join in. We’ve had a lot of fun doing this over the years. If anyone has comments about past Worcester Bloomsday celebrations, we’d be happy to post them. Just email us!
Where & When?
We try to add new sites each year while revisiting perennial favorites like Ben Franklin’s. Our outdoor sites don’t always have seating, so you might want to bring a chair. These sites have no admission fees, but you must pay for your meals. The episodes we plan to read at each site are listed. Always check back on June 15 for last-minute schedule updates!
Bloomsday FAQ
How long have you been doing this? The Worcester Ramble started in 1997 as a project of several WCPA board members. Trevor Code is the father of the Ramble, and Angela Dorenkemp bought the Irish flag we still use. Quite a few of the original Ramblers are still active planners and participants.
Who plans the Worcester Ramble? WCPA sponsors the event. Sometime in January, a committee is formed to propose the itinerary for June 16. We think about where we’ve been and where we’d like to go next, and we spend a lot of time thinking about what hasn’t worked in the past and why. (Bars sound good in theory but can be very noisy and dark.) Once we have a workable itinerary, we match the readings to the location. And before we advertise the locations or post them on the website, we visit each site. We also plan other activities, which vary from year to year, like films and lectures. Then, we will update the website, design and print flyers, notify the press, and hope for good weather.
Can I participate if I haven’t read the book? Absolutely! Every year, people say they will read the entire book before the next Bloomsday… but never get around to it. No problem. Enjoy the celebration of language – there won’t be a test.
“Ulysses Page Finder” – What’s that? Joyce didn’t include chapter numbers or titles for the different sections of Ulysses. We have “episodes” that more or less parallel The Odyssey. Also, there are many editions of Ulysses in print. For example, Episode 4: Calypso starts on page 81 in some editions, page 54 in others. You can print the page finder and check it against your edition. Once you’ve figured out the page numbers for your edition, please share them with us, and your information will be added.
Do I need to own a copy of Ulysses to participate? No, you don’t need a copy—lots of folks will share their copies with you so you can follow along or join in the reading. And there’s always the public library! Over the past few years, the complete text of Ulysses has been digitized and is available as a free download from Project Gutenberg and other sites. You’ll notice in the photos an increasing number of participants using e-readers of various kinds.
Does it cost anything? Do I need to be a WCPA member? No, and no. Everyone is invited to participate, and the places we visit do not have admission fees. We would love to have you join the WCPA or donate to show your support for the organization, but it isn’t a requirement. Just show up. No cost, no registration, no strings. You must buy your food if you participate during the mealtime readings.
I have to work that day. Can I just come during lunch or after work? Yes, please stop by one of the sites during the day, even if it’s just for an hour or so. It’s very informal. We try to keep to the schedule, so you can generally find us more or less where we say we will be.
Useful links
The Story
The Rosenbach Museum & Library concisely summarizes Ulysses, episode by episode – a great place to begin for newbies!
Joyce Images
is maintained by Aida Yared. Using historical photos, newspapers, advertising, postcards, and an amazing amount of research, 1904 Dublin, as Joyce experienced it, is brought to life.
Notes on Ulysses
This site, created by Michael Groden, University of Western Ontario, Canada, explains the plot and characters chapter by chapter, adding interesting Homeric parallels and other commentary.
James Joyce Center
Everything Joyce and everything Bloomsday. Are you wondering what they have planned for Bloomsday in Buenos Aires, Ottawa, Aukland, and Vilnius? Are you planning a visit to Dublin? This is the site for you!
Project Gutenberg
Download Ulysses to your e-reader.
National Library of Ireland
Newly digitized and available to the public, Joyce’s papers include notebooks, proof pages, and correspondence.
The Origins of Bloomsday
Learn about why June 16th will forever be associated with Ulysses
