Juneteenth - traditions?

[Anonymous]

I'm AA (mixed) and want to start celebrating Juneteenth. I've got 3 kids age 7 and under. Any ideas for particular traditions to create? My family never celebrated so I have nothing to pass down to them.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Texas. We had some parties and small festivals and parades but mostly just celebrating the day, maybe a cookout. And sometimes a reading, similar to Emancipation Day.

For Nineteenth here, it seems similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in Texas. We had some parties and small festivals and parades but mostly just celebrating the day, maybe a cookout. And sometimes a reading, similar to Emancipation Day.

For Nineteenth here, it seems similar.

+1 Although my town always had a parade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in Texas. We had some parties and small festivals and parades but mostly just celebrating the day, maybe a cookout. And sometimes a reading, similar to Emancipation Day.

For Nineteenth here, it seems similar.

^ that was a weird autocorrect

For Juneteenth here, it's similar.

[Anonymous]

I believe it is more of a Texas and southern states tradtion.

[Anonymous]

never heard of it,what is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe it is more of a Texas and southern states tradtion.

It is not.

The town I grew up in Ohio had a parade and a festival every year. My family/extended family always had a big cookout. And before the meal we each take a turn talking about a member of the family who is gone and how they influenced us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:never heard of it,what is it?

The day slaves learned they were freed.
The show Blackish did a good episode that explains the history. Here’s a clip: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1eL8S_oqkKw

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe it is more of a Texas and southern states tradtion.

It's been a state holiday in Texas since 1980 but it's definitely spread to be celebrated in most places and there's currently a push to make it a national holiday (which I agree it should be). But I do agree that it used to be more regional - when I first moved to NYC in the early 2000's I mentioned it and no one knew what I was talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:never heard of it,what is it?

https://www.history.com/news/what-is-juneteenth

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) is a holiday commemorating this day, which marked the effective end of slavery in the United States.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I can't believe I never heard of that. That should be celebrated.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t it specifically the day a group of slaves in texas learned about the emancipation proclamation? And that’s why it’s a bigger deal in Texas? But it grew to be celebrated in many places, including DC. A positive Texas contribution!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:never heard of it,what is it?

So here is a great opportunity for you to use Google to look it up instead of making other people do the work for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t it specifically the day a group of slaves in texas learned about the emancipation proclamation? And that’s why it’s a bigger deal in Texas? But it grew to be celebrated in many places, including DC. A positive Texas contribution!

Yes, but not just "a group of slaves" - it's the day the last enslaved people in the US were freed. It's the actual end of slavery, as opposed to the date of the Proclamation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe it is more of a Texas and southern states tradtion.

It is not.

The town I grew up in Ohio had a parade and a festival every year. My family/extended family always had a big cookout. And before the meal we each take a turn talking about a member of the family who is gone and how they influenced us.

OP here. Thanks for sharing this tradition. Love the idea.