Juneteenth celebrating abolishment

Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day, or Emancipation Day, is a holiday in the United State that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the United States. It also signifies the day slavery was abolished in Texas and throughout the Confederate South.

The name of the holiday derives from combining the words “June” and “nineteenth.” This is because it is celebrated on June 19. It is recognized as a state holiday or a special day of observance in most states.

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, during the American Civil War, declaring more than three million slaves living in the confederate states to be free. However, on June 19, 1865, over two years later, the news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached African Americans living in Texas. It was not until Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, that the state’s resi dents finally learned slavery had been abolished. It wasn’t until 1980 that Juneteenth became a state holiday in Texas, with several states following.

Today’s celebrations include a variety of activities such as prayer and religious services, speeches, education events, to family gatherings and picnics, and festivals with music, food, and dancing. The Juneteenth celebration is not only to commemorate the abolishment of slavery, but also to celebrate the culture and achievements of African Americans.