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About Juneteenth

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About Juneteenth

Juneteenth, on 19 June, marks the end of slavery in the United States. On 19 June 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people there were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Black communities in Texas began celebrating the day the next year, and the custom spread across the country. In 2021 it became a federal holiday, Juneteenth National Independence Day.

Families and communities mark it with cookouts, red foods such as strawberry soda and red velvet cake, readings of history, music, parades, church services and time to reflect on freedom and the work still to be done.

  • 19 June
  • Galveston, Texas, 1865
  • US federal holiday since 2021

Where it began

The name joins June and nineteenth. On 19 June 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and read an order announcing that all enslaved people in Texas were free.

The Emancipation Proclamation had been signed in 1863, but the news and its enforcement had not yet reached Texas. Freed people celebrated with prayer, food and song, and they kept the day each year.

The Juneteenth flag raised for the dayUnited States

How it grew over time

  1. 1866

    The first yearly celebrations of the day were held in Texas.

  2. Late 1800s

    Communities bought land for celebrations, such as Emancipation Park in Houston.

  3. 1980

    Texas made Juneteenth an official state holiday.

  4. 2021

    Juneteenth became a federal holiday across the United States.

  5. Today

    Cities across the country hold parades, festivals and family picnics.

How it is celebrated in different places

  • Galveston, Texas

    The city where it began holds readings of the order, parades and events.

  • Houston

    Emancipation Park hosts concerts and family gatherings.

  • Across the US

    Towns hold cookouts, music, art shows and talks on history.

Juneteenth moments

Families fill the street at a Juneteenth festivalUnited States
A band plays at an Emancipation Day celebration on 19 June 1900Texas, United States
An Emancipation Day parade drawn in 1877United States
A large crowd celebrates freedom in an early printUnited States

Juneteenth today

Families gather for barbecues and picnics, often with red foods and drinks like strawberry soda and red velvet cake, which many link to strength and memory. There are parades, rodeos, concerts and readings of history.

Many people also use the day to learn, visit museums and honour their elders.

How people celebrate Juneteenth

  • Family cookouts and picnics
  • Red foods and drinks
  • Readings of the emancipation news
  • Parades and festivals
  • Church services and gospel music
  • Visiting museums and learning history

How to wish well

  • "Happy Juneteenth" is the usual greeting. Many people also write "Happy Freedom Day" or "Happy Emancipation Day".
  • The day is joyful and also reflective; a message that honours history and looks to the future feels right.
  • For colleagues and customers, keep it respectful and sincere; avoid treating it as only a sales event.

Questions about Juneteenth

When is Juneteenth?

On 19 June every year. When it falls on a weekend, the federal holiday moves to the Friday or Monday.

What does Juneteenth celebrate?

The end of slavery in the United States, marked by the day in 1865 when the news of freedom reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas.

Is it okay to say Happy Juneteenth?

Yes. "Happy Juneteenth" is widely used. The day is a celebration of freedom as well as a time to reflect.

Why is red food eaten on Juneteenth?

Red is said to honour the resilience and sacrifice of enslaved ancestors, and links to foods and traditions from West Africa.

When did Juneteenth become a federal holiday?

In 2021.

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