Discover the history of Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States
Learn more about Juneteenth, the holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It is observed every year on June 19.
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News •
Opal Lee, 'grandmother of Juneteenth,' spends 100th birthday at the center of celebrations in Texas
• Oct. 17, 2026, 5:00 AM ET (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Transcript
Did You Know? Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
It is celebrated on June 19, which is also how it gets its name: “June” plus “nineteenth” equals “Juneteenth.”
Juneteenth was originally celebrated in Texas, on June 19, 1866.
It was the first anniversary of the day that African Americans in Texas learned of the Emancipation Proclamation more -- than two years after it was initially issued.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.
The Juneteenth flag uses the red, white, and blue of the United States flag to signify that enslaved people in the United States and their descendants all were and are Americans.
The white star and its burst symbol on the flag represents newness and freedom.
Today, Juneteenth is celebrated with family gatherings, festivals, religious services, and educational events.
Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
It is celebrated on June 19, which is also how it gets its name: “June” plus “nineteenth” equals “Juneteenth.”
Juneteenth was originally celebrated in Texas, on June 19, 1866.
It was the first anniversary of the day that African Americans in Texas learned of the Emancipation Proclamation more -- than two years after it was initially issued.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.
The Juneteenth flag uses the red, white, and blue of the United States flag to signify that enslaved people in the United States and their descendants all were and are Americans.
The white star and its burst symbol on the flag represents newness and freedom.
Today, Juneteenth is celebrated with family gatherings, festivals, religious services, and educational events.
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