✊🏿 Days Until Juneteenth
There are
days until Juneteenth (June 19)
Related holidays
About Juneteenth
Juneteenth, observed on June 19th, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. On this date in 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were free — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth became a U.S. federal holiday in 2021. Celebrations include community gatherings, cookouts, parades, readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, and educational events about African American history and culture.
How to prepare for Juneteenth
Look for local Juneteenth festivals, parades, and community events in your area — many cities host cultural celebrations with live music, art, and food. Support Black-owned businesses and restaurants. Read books or watch documentaries about the history of Juneteenth and the Emancipation Proclamation to deepen your understanding. If hosting a gathering, consider preparing traditional foods like red velvet cake, barbecue, and red drinks that symbolize the resilience and perseverance of African Americans.
Traditions and customs
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people were free — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Celebrations began in Texas the following year and include cookouts, parades, readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, music and dance, and educational events. Red foods and drinks — red velvet cake, strawberry soda, watermelon — symbolize resilience and are a hallmark of the day.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Juneteenth?
- Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19th each year. It became a U.S. federal holiday in 2021.
- What does Juneteenth commemorate?
- It marks June 19, 1865, the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned they were free, effectively ending slavery in the last Confederate state to hear the news.
- Why is it called Juneteenth?
- The name is a blend of "June" and "nineteenth," the date of General Granger's 1865 order announcing freedom in Texas.