Juneteenth
Juneteenth is an African American holiday celebrating June 19, 1865, the day when General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to proclaim the news that all slaves were emancipated. There are various tales about why Texans didn't receive news of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, over a year and a half previously. Since the end of the Civil War, Juneteenth has been celebrated by African Americans throughout the country. It is often a homecoming event marked by picnics, baseball games, parades, and dances. Although often celebrated on June 19, many cities and states observe Juneteenth on January 1, August 4, August 8, and other times of the year. It is the oldest African American holiday.
For more information, see Holiday Symbols and Customs, 3rd Ed. Cabell Library Reference GT3930 .T48 2003 and Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary, 3rd Ed. Cabell Library Reference GT3925 .H64 2005.
--Monique Prince, Undergraduate Services Librarian - Research and Reference Services