Juneteenth
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of emancipation in the United States. It marks the day when emancipation was first proclaimed in Texas, and it is an important date in U.S. history and in African American history. Many communities around the country have Juneteenth celebrations, which almost always focus on education and celebration of freedom. Prayer services are also a major part of Juneteenth celebrations. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that Union soldiers, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was 2½ years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official Jan. 1, 1863.
United States