Juneteenth is a celebration of the emancipation of slaves in the United States.

June 19th is Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the United States. The holiday was created in 1865 by freed slaves who wanted to celebrate their freedom from slavery, but weren’t allowed to at the time. Although Juneteenth isn’t as widely celebrated as other holidays, it’s still observed by many Americans and has become an important part of American culture.

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth marks the day that Texas Union soldiers arrived in Galveston to tell former slaves that they were free. On June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers landed at Galveston Island and announced that all former slaves were now free. This news spread across Texas and other Southern states, where many former slaves had been sold into slavery after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

The holiday was created on June 19th, 1866 by freed slaves who wanted to celebrate their freedom from slavery. At this time, however, it wasn’t legal for African Americans to celebrate their freedom or even meet together without white supervision.

Why was Juneteenth not celebrated until over two years after it happened?

In 1865 there were no celebrations or parades when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston Island to tell former slaves they were free. This was because General Gordon Granger had originally told all Confederate leaders that he would only free any remaining enslaved people if he saw them working on his arrival on June 19th. When Granger did arrive he found no one working and immediately declared all enslaved people in Texas free.

How is Juneteenth celebrated today?

Many Americans observe Juneteenth with parades and parties with family and friends. In recent years many cities have also begun hosting festivals for the holiday.