The modern slaves from Galveston, Texas, kicked off the festivities. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation set free slaves in the South in 1863, it was not able to be enforced in many areas until the Civil War ended in 1865. After Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger and his forces reached in Galveston on June 19, 1865, they carried with them the news that the war was over and that the slaves were now free. That came nearly two months after Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant acknowledged the surrender of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Virginia. Thursday is Juneteenth, a holiday remembering the day the last imprisoned Americans found out they were free.
Juneteenth 2025
Through cookouts, parades, street festivals, and musical performances, Black Americans have celebrated the end of one of the shadiest periods in American history with joy for many age groups. Juneteenth is a combination of the terms “June” and “nineteenth.” Other names for the holiday are Juneteenth Independence Day and Freedom Day. There will be no mail deliveries on June 19 due to the U.S. Postal Service’s closure. According to their websites, UPS and FedEx will offer pickup and delivery services on June 19, along with store locations. Thursday is a closed day for all federal agencies, including the SSA and the DMV. A statute labelling Juneteenth as a government holiday was enacted into law in 2021 by former President Joe Biden. Lectures and shows on African-American culture are regularly a part of Juneteenth festivities.
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African-American legacy education is highlighted heavily in the modern celebration. In Emerge, Karen M. Thomas explained that “community leaders have latched on to [Juneteenth] to aid teach a sense of legacy and pride in Black youth.” Drama performances, storytelling, and voter registration drives are frequently held in combination with celebrations. In addition, soul food and other cuisines with African-American characteristics are celebrated on this holiday. June 19 is el Día de los Negros, a festivity and reunion of the Black Seminoles of Nacimiento, Mexico. Freedom Day, which honours the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, is celebrated on August 1 in several former British territories. As of 2021, the United Nations has chosen August 31 as the International Day for the General Public of African Descent.
What is the history behind Juneteenth?
Union General Gordon Granger’s presence in Galveston on June 19, 1865, and the issuance of General Order No. 3, which officially declared freedom to enslaved people in Texas, are the roots of Juneteenth. The Associated states did not enforce the Freedom Declaration until the termination of the Civil War, even though it having been in existence since 1863. Granger’s declaration stated that “all slaves are free” and thorough how former slaves and slaveholders would now cooperate as employers and hired laborers.
African Americans who had been open notable this important day, and customs like as readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, parades, cookouts, and cultural performances have persisted.

How does Juneteenth celebrate?
Black freedom is celebrated on June 19, 1865, the day Union troops inwards in Galveston, Texas, and told the Black civic that slavery was removed in the US and that the Civil War was over. Agreeing to the National Museum of African American History & Culture, it has officially been called America’s 2nd Independence Day.
President Abraham Lincoln signed the Freedom Announcement more than two years before to the day, although it was only applicable in regions governed by the Union. Union rule over United Texas did not begin until 1865.
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What’s open and closed on June 19 for Emancipation Day?
Government and service offices
DMV, Social Security, and courts are among the federal and state offices that will continue to be closed. No deliveries or branches will be open from the United States Postal Service (USPS). Many cities also defer garbage and recycling collection by one day.
Bank & finance markets
All of their branches will be closed by major banks like PNC, Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and Bank of America. The NASDAQ and NYSE stock and bond markets will not be open. The subsequent day, banks will receive transactions, and you will still be able to procedure internet banking and ATMs.
Parcel and private services
FedEx and UPS will continue their regular operations. Large private businesses like Costco and Walmart will be open, but it’s best to check the local hours.
Cultural & educational events for Juneteenth 2025
In cities like Houston, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, and Kansas City, there will be family-friendly measures, historic visits, concerts, shows, and public festivals. Talks about history, poems readings, African-American culture and art marketplaces, freestyling, food fairs, and much more. Making time for films, objects, podcasts, or profiles that help you learn additional about this history is part of Juneteenth’s scholastic mission. Take a time to educate yourself about and honor this significant date in civil rights history on June 19, 2025.
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