Holidays people celebrate Part 3 - Juneteenth - Information for Gr 1-3
Do you know what the holiday 'Juneteenth' celebrated in the USA is all about? Lets learn some new things.
Read yourself and watch the videos for extra information.
This is a day where the freeing of the slaves are celebrated - slaves were not free and had to do what their 'master' told them to do, but then there came a new law that said slavery is not allowed any more. (For enrichment, you can read here).
Juneteenth is celebrated on the 19th of June and the name is a combination of the two words, but it is also called 'Emancipation day' or 'Freedom day'.
The day is celebrated in the United States mostly by African-Americans. It is most celebrated in the state of Texas where it has been an official state holiday since 1980. Many other states recognize the day as either an official holiday or observance.
The who celebrate this day will organize some marches or get together with their friends and family and have a barbecue. Some also get together and pray, sing songs and raise the special Juneteenth flag. You can also print it here to color in.
This is also a time when the African Americans celebrate their heritage.
On September 22, 1862 the "Emancipation Proclamation" was given by Abraham Lincoln. This was a order that was given that the slaves will be freed. The slaves were not set free right away and this only happened the day after the Union Army arrived in Texas on the 18th of June 1863. So on the 19th General Gordon Granger announced that all slaves were free under the order given by the president.
The former slaves in Galveston celebrated the day that they were set free. The first Juneteenth celebration took place the very next year.
Since the 1980's this is an official public holiday in Texas.
This is the oldest holiday that celebrates the freedom of slaves. This is truly a day where the people who's ancestors were slaves can celebrate that they are now living a free live. Even if you do not have ancestors who were slave, it does not mean that you can not also celebrate the day because you believe that all people must be free and nobody may be kept as a slave.
Very useful. Thanks for sharing this post with us and wishing you an great day. Stay blessed
Thank you very much - even if these are worksheets for little ones I am actually also learning a few things - did know about the slaves, but not of the celebration of Juneteenth