National Bloomsday: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about National Bloomsday (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. National Bloomsday is celebrated on June 16th.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of National Bloomsday, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as cool facts you ought to know about National Bloomsday.

📅 What day is National Bloomsday 2024?

In 2024, National Bloomsday is on Friday, June 16th. It is the 3rd Friday in June; in 2024, it is Sunday. There are until the next observance. You also can learn all the cool details and facts about June 16, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

Every year on June 16th, people around the world come together to celebrate National Bloomsday, a holiday that primarily originated in Ireland. This special day is dedicated to honoring James Joyce, the renowned Irish author famous for his masterpiece “Ulysses” published in 1922. The story revolves around the character Leopold Bloom and his activities throughout a typical day in Dublin, specifically on June 16, 1904. Interestingly, it was on this very day that James Joyce had his first encounter with Nora Barnacle, his future wife. Whether this alignment is merely coincidental or not, National Bloomsday serves as a yearly remembrance of these two significant events.

📜 National Bloomsday History

In 1954, the famous writer Brian O’Nolan and well-known artist John Ryan worked together to organize the first official Bloomsday. They planned a journey through the streets mentioned in James Joyce’s “Ulysses” to honor the day in Dublin. Accompanied by Patrick Kavanagh, Tom Joyce (James Joyce’s brother), and their cousin, Anthony Cronin and A.J. Leventhal also joined to drive the horse-drawn carriages carrying the group.

Each participant took on a role from the book and engaged in a form of acting. A.J. Leventhal portrayed Leopold Bloom, Brian O’Nolan played Simon Dedalus, John Ryan portrayed Martin Cunningham, and Anthony Cronin took on the role of Stephen Dedalus.

Their intention was to follow the path from the Martello Tower and reach Nighttown exactly as described in the book. Unfortunately, they had to stop halfway because everyone had become too intoxicated to continue even a single step.

Since then, National Bloomsday has become a significant event in Ireland and is celebrated by James Joyce enthusiasts worldwide.

✅ National Bloomsday Facts

🔖 Offal is on the menu
In “Ulysses,” offal is a type of food that is commonly enjoyed on Bloomsday.

🔖 First edition auction
The first version of “Ulysses” had a limited print run of only 1,000 copies, and each copy was priced at 150 francs. However, in 2009, a rare first edition copy of the book was sold at an auction for a staggering £275,000.

🔖 It was rejected by Mills and Boon
Despite their focus on romantic fiction with happy endings, it is unexpected that Mills & Boon rejected “Ulysses.”

👍 Why Is National Bloomsday Important

The day is an excellent opportunity to honor James Joyce’s talent. People pay homage to his talent by visiting Dublin, visiting the pubs and bars, and taking the iconic route.

“Ulysses” is considered one of the finest books of the previous century. It has achieved cult status over the years, and today is a great opportunity to read or reread the novel and gain some d to insights into it.

On this day, we get the opportunity to meet a large number of Joyce fans. It’s a fun way to discuss various theories about “Ulysses” while also acting out some of its characters during re-reads.

🙂 How To Observe National Bloomsday

⚡ Read “Ulysses”

⚡ Visit Dublin
If you’re a fan of James Joyce and want to celebrate National Bloomsday, why not plan a vacation to Dublin, the capital of Ireland? This would be the perfect opportunity for you to immerse yourself in the world of Joyce and enjoy a memorable excursion.

⚡ Partake in the pub crawls and street parties
Get a copy of “Ulysses” from your local library or bookshop and read it. Invite your friends and family to a reading session to relive the narrative. You may even assign characters to everyone to make the reading session even more enjoyable.

📅 When is National Bloomsday?

You can view all 🔗 June holidays, including 🔗 Arts & Entertainment and other 🔗 Appreciation holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and cool facts about National Bloomsday. So be sure to check back soon.