What You Need To Know About Juneteenth
Today is Juneteenth – a day celebrating the end of slavery in the United States. Here’s what you need to know about the nation’s most recent federal holiday.
What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth marks the day that Union soldiers arrived to free the slaves in Galveston, Texas on June 19th, 1965 – two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and more than two months after the end of the Civil War.
How long has it been celebrated? Juneteenth celebrations go as far back as 1866, and began to grow in popularity in the 1930’s. It was declared a federal holiday, formally known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, in 2021.
How is it celebrated? Juneteenth is often celebrated with gatherings, cookouts, or church services. Since it became a federal holiday, many large cities have begun holding Juneteenth parades or other ceremonies.
