I was at a wedding last year on June 16 when the maid of honor gave a touching toast to the couple, noting the fact they were celebrating their union on the same day as “Bloomsday”, the annual Irish celebration marking the mythical events in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses. The maid of honor artfully worked in Molly Bloom’s famous “yes I said yes I will yes” soliloquy into her speech, as a demonstration of eternal love and devotion. The best man, who was forced to take his turn toasting after the sister, could only follow up with a jovial, “Well, good thing I threw out my ‘Bloomsday’ speech.”

Joyce fans in the D.C. area may not be so obsessive that Ulysses plays a central role in their weddings, but those itching to celebrate Bloomsday still have a chance to mark the day without heading abroad. On Monday, the Embassy of Ireland, Scena Theater and the Embassy of Switzerland will sponsor “Re:Joyce IV – Spend Bloomsday with James Joyce”. The evening includes selections from a number of Joyce’s novels, both famous and obscure. A reception follows the preformances.

Tickets to the event are available online.