What events take place on Juneteenth?

Juneteenth celebrations in the United States typically include prayer and religious services, speeches, educational events, family gatherings and picnics, and festivals with food, music, and dancing.

What event does Juneteenth celebrate?

Juneteenth Facts

Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, and Emancipation Day, is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. Though the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, it was not enforced in the South until the end of the Civil War in 1865.

What are the 3 states that don’t celebrate Juneteenth?

“It’s the promise of tomorrow, it’s the promise of the future.” At the beginning of 2021, there were three states left that didn’t recognize Juneteenth as a holiday: North and South Dakota, and Hawaii. North Dakota and Hawaii both approved legislation to honor Juneteenth as a state holiday this year.

Where are the biggest Juneteenth celebrations?

Houston, Texas

Galveston, Texas, was the site where the first Emancipation Day was celebrated in 1866, but it’s in nearby Houston, America’s fourth most populous city, where you’ll find the most devout Juneteenth celebrants.

How do people celebrate Juneteenth holiday?

How to Celebrate Juneteenth This Year
  1. Find an event in your neighborhood. …
  2. Host your own backyard party. …
  3. Cook some traditional foods. …
  4. Support Black-owned businesses. …
  5. Listen to Black artists. …
  6. Read books written by Black authors and poets. …
  7. Watch Black TV shows and movies. …
  8. Visit an exhibit or museum dedicated to Black culture.

When did Juneteenth become a thing?

Juneteenth: What It Is And How It Is Observed June 19, 1865, marked a huge turning point for Black people in America. But many slave owners refused to comply. And even celebrating the date was discouraged in the years to come.

What’s the history behind Juneteenth?

The history of Juneteenth

The holiday observes the day when slaves in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom upon the arrival of federal troops on June 19, 1865 — two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and about two months after the end of the Civil War.

Which state was the last to free slaves?

Mississippi Becomes Last State to Ratify 13th Amendment


After what’s being seen as an “oversight†by the state of Mississippi, the Southern territory has become the last state to consent to the 13th Amendment–officially abolishing slavery.

Is June 19th a federal holiday?

Originating in Galveston, Texas, it has been celebrated annually on June 19 in various parts of the United States since 1865. The day was recognized as a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.

Which state did not recognize Juneteenth?

Only one state — South Dakota — does not recognize Juneteenth as either a state holiday or day of observance. And even there, legislators are pushing to add the holiday to the state’s list of formally recognized celebrations. “We should all be able to celebrate the end of slavery,” said state Sen.

What does the Juneteenth flag look like?

Deliberately consisting of a red, white, and blue color scheme just like the American flag, the Juneteenth flag has a white star in the center, meant to represent both Texas (the Lone Star State), as well as the freedom of enslaved people in all 50 states.

Is Juneteenth a holiday in Indiana?

STATE WIDE–Many Black Hoosiers have been celebrating Juneteenth for over 150 years, with names like Emancipation Day, Freedom Day or Jubilee Day. Now that it’s a federal holiday, it goes beyond church events and community celebrations.

Where is Juneteenth celebrated in Milwaukee?

The celebration of Juneteenth Day, one of the state’s longest-running African American events, will again take to North King Drive in Milwaukee in a day highlighting Black culture and the opening of the summer festival season with music, food, contests, vendors and a parade.

What does strawberry soda have to do with Juneteenth?

Strawberry soda is a common feature of the Juneteenth holiday as a nod to the celebrations of slaves in Galveston, Texas, who on June 19, 1865, learned they were free. Those celebrations, according to the Journal Sentinel story, included red food and beverages “to symbolize the blood that was shed by the slaves.”

How do you explain Juneteenth to a child?

“Juneteenth” commemorates the day — June 19th, 1865 — that 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, and informed the remaining 250,000 enslaved Americans that the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln granted them freedom.

Is it OK to say Happy Juneteenth?

Just say ‘Happy Juneteenth! ‘ The easiest way to wish someone a Happy Juneteenth is by messaging them and wishing them a fulfilled day. Similar to Black History Month, and other important anniversaries to Black Americans, it is important to acknowledge it as an American holiday, even if you do not celebrate it.