Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. It specifically marks June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that the Civil War had ended and that all enslaved people were free-more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863
. The holiday is often called America's second Independence Day and commemorates the delayed enforcement of emancipation in Texas, which was the last Confederate state where slavery persisted
. Juneteenth celebrations began the following year in 1866 with prayer meetings, singing spirituals, and community gatherings, and over time spread across the country
. Today, it is a federal holiday known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, celebrated with festivals, parades, educational events, family reunions, and cultural activities that honor African American history, culture, and progress
. In summary, Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S., the freedom of enslaved people, and African American heritage and achievements
