Juneteenth National Independence Day 2025
Thursday, June 19, 2025
Juneteenth National Independence Day 2025 was Thursday, June 19, 2025
Check the dates below for upcoming celebrations.
Juneteenth National Independence Day - Next 5 Years
| Year | Date | Day of Week | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 19, 2025 | Thursday | Past |
| 2026 | June 19, 2026 | Friday | In 227 days |
| 2027 | June 19, 2027 | Saturday | In 592 days |
| 2028 | June 19, 2028 | Monday | In 958 days |
| 2029 | June 19, 2029 | Tuesday | In 1323 days |
📚 History & Origin
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people were free - two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. This delay was due to minimal Union troops in Texas to enforce the proclamation. The holiday originated in Texas and gradually spread across the country. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday, making it the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983.
🎊 Traditions & Celebrations
Juneteenth is celebrated with festivals, parades, family gatherings, historical reenactments, educational events about African American history and culture, prayer services, and public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation. Traditional foods include red-colored foods and drinks (symbolizing resilience and joy), barbecue, and soul food. Many communities organize voter registration drives and community service projects.
✨ Fun Facts
Juneteenth is a combination of 'June' and 'nineteenth' and is also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Emancipation Day
The color red is significant in Juneteenth celebrations, appearing in foods like red velvet cake, strawberry soda, and barbecue with red sauce
Texas was the first state to make Juneteenth an official state holiday in 1980
All 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia now recognize Juneteenth as a holiday
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