Juneteenth celebration in Austin, Texas on 19 June 1900

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is an annual holiday or holiday observance in 26 states of the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. Arkansas ( is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Year 1900 ( MCM) was an exceptional Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Celebrated on June 19, it commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas. Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another The holiday originated in Galveston, Texas; for more than a century, the state of Texas was the primary home of Juneteenth celebrations. "Galveston" redirects here For the town in the US state of Indiana see Galveston Indiana. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. However, one small community in Arkansas (Wilmar) boasts that its celebration, called "June Dinner" has been consistently observed and celebrated, except for one year, since approximately 1870. Wilmar may refer to Wilmar Arkansas Wilmar California Since 1980, Juneteenth has been an official state holiday in Texas. It is considered a "partial staffing holiday" meaning that state offices do not close but some employees will be using a floating holiday to take the day off. ^[1] Twelve other states list it as an official holiday, including Arkansas, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Alaska . Arkansas ( is a state located in the southern region of the United States. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Connecticut ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent In California, Governor Schwarzenegger proclaimed June 19th "Juneteenth" on June 19, 2005. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger ( German ˌaɐnɔlt aloʏs ˈʃvaɐtsənɛɡɐ born July 30 1947 is an Austrian American Bodybuilder, Actor Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. ^{[2] [3]} However, some of these states, such as Connecticut, do not consider it a legal holiday and do not close government offices in observance of the occasion. Civic Holiday is the most widely used name for a public holiday celebrated in parts of Canada on the first Monday in August ^[4] Its informal observance has spread to some other states, with a few celebrations even taking place in other countries. ^{[5] [3]}

As of June 2008, 29 states^[6] have recognized Juneteenth as either a state holiday or state holiday observance; these include Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Delaware, Idaho, Alaska, Iowa, California, Wyoming, Missouri, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Arkansas, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Vermont and North Carolina, as well as the District of Columbia.

History

Though the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863, it had little immediate effect on most slaves’ day-to-day lives, particularly in Texas, which was almost entirely under Confederate control. The Emancipation Proclamation consists of two executive orders issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Year 1862 was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Monday New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1863 ( MDCCCLXIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Confederate States of America (also called the Confederacy, the Confederate States, and CSA) formed as the government set up from 1861 Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived on Galveston Island to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves. Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Year 1865 ( MDCCCLXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The Union Army was the army that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. Gordon Granger ( November 6, 1822 &ndash January 10, 1876) was a career U Galveston Island is a Barrier island on the Texas Gulf coast in the United States about 50 miles (80 kilometers southeast of Houston. Legend has it while standing on the balcony of Galveston’s Ashton Villa, Granger read the contents of “General Order No. 3”

The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere. ^[7]

That day has since become known as Juneteenth, a name derived from a portmanteau of the words June and nineteenth. Events in June Madaraka Day June 1 to commemorate when Kenya gained internal self-rule 19 ( nineteen) is the Natural number following 18 and preceding 20.

Former slaves in Galveston rejoiced in the streets with jubilant celebrations. Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas the following year. ^[7] Across many parts of Texas, freed people pooled their funds to purchase land specifically for their communities’ increasingly large Juneteenth gatherings—including Houston’s Emancipation Park, Mexia’s Booker T. Mexia (məˈheɪə muh-HAY-uh or /məˈhɛər/ muh-HAIR) is a city in Limestone County, Texas, United States. Washington Park, and Emancipation Park in Austin. ^[7] Juneteenth celebrations include a wide range of festivities, such as parades, street fairs, cookouts, or park parties and include such things as music and dancing or even contests of physical strength and intellect. Baseball and other popular American games may also be played.

Juneteenth is mentioned in the writings of Sojourner Truth as a day when the slaves of New York State could celebrate one day of freedom. She reports in her writings that the parties and celebrations were such that she even considered giving up her freedom to be able to take part. This can be found in "The diary of Sojourner Truth".

In literature

Ralph Ellison's second novel Juneteenth deals with this holiday and its traditions. Ralph Waldo Ellison ( March 1, 1914 &ndash April 16, 1994) was a Scholar and Writer. Juneteenth is the title of African American writer Ralph Ellison 's second novel (ISBN 0-394-46457-5 published posthumously as a 368-page condensation Juneteenth was published posthumously, from a manuscript which required heavy editing (and paring) after Ellison's death.

Carolyn Meyer's novel Jubilee Journey is the story of one young biracial girl celebrating Juneteenth with her relatives in Texas, while also learning to be proud of her African American heritage. best book bewareprincess elizabeth Carolyn Meyer (born 8 June 1935) is and author of novels for children and young adults

Ann Rinaldi's historical novel Come Juneteenth is the story of how Juneteenth came to be, and follows the life of the daughter of a young white plantation-owner's daughter in Texas during the Civil War whose family faces tragedy after their mulatto half-sister runs away when learning they lied to her about being free. Ann Rinaldi (b August 27, 1934, in New York City is a young adult fiction author

Traditions

Juneteenth is traditionally celebrated with a large feast served as an all day meal in a park or outdoor space. The traditional dishes of Juneteenth are served pot luck and usually include portions of barbecue, cakes, and pies. barbeque block party Kansas cityjpg|thumb|right|275px|A barbecue on a trailer at a Block party in Kansas City.

See also

• History of slavery in the United States
• Emancipation Day
• African American

External links

• Juneteenth World Wide Celebration
• 19th of June
• Juneteenth from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Texas State Library’s Juneteenth page
• Dallas’ annual Juneteenth film festival
• Festival for Charlotte, NC and surrounding area
• Juneteenth America, Inc.--California Juneteenth
• Rappahannock Regional Juneteenth Celebration
• National Juneteenth Observance Foundation
• Juneteenth New Jersey Celebration
• Juneteenth Maryland Celebration
• Pennsylvania Juneteenth Coalition
• Massachusetts to 'recognize' Juneteenth Boston Globe