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June 16th has been celebrated around the world since James Joyce's
Ulysses, the world's most highly acclaimed modern novel, was first published
in 1922. Ulysses is a hugely satisfying book because it embraces all of
life and the complexity of life as experienced by everyone. "Bloomsday",
as it is now known, is a literary party that celebrates the day in 1904
on which Ulysses is set and the principal characters Leopold Bloom and
Stephen Dedalus took their epic journeys through Dublin, Ireland. So, June
16th has become a traditional celebration for Joyce enthusiasts all over
the world. For Joyce, the special significance of 16 June 1904 was that
on that date he and his future wife Nora Barnacle had their first rendezvous.
In many cities, attempts are made to read the entire book out loud. In
Dublin, tourists dress up and retrace the routes of Joyce's characters.
The celebrations and festivities also include staged re-enactments and
street-side improvisations of scenes from the story. Everywhere, alcohol
is consumed in quantity.
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Bloomsday 2007 is our 14th regular event in Santa Maria - RS (Brazil).
Like all around the world it will be again an event with readings, music,
poetry, fine literature and joy. Our basic idea is to recreate that day
with spirits and readings from Ulysses and other works of Joyce. We intend to read parts of the original text in english and some translations in french, deutch, italian, spanish, catalan, russian and portuguese. The "Ponto
de Cinema" staff, CESMA (Cooperativa dos Estudantes de Santa Maria) and
our group (Reading Circle of James Joyce´s Friends in Santa Maria)
invite you to join us next June 16th, saturday, at 09:00 am. Come and join
us. Otherwise, if you stay home, please stay reading!
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Aguinaldo M. Severino (chairman)
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