Juneteenthwhich commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021 – more than a century after it was first celebrated. As Americans across the country celebrate this holiday today, many are wondering how it will impact business hours and daily activities.
So for this year’s holiday, we’re providing an overview of what you can expect from local businesses. Below, find out what’s open or closed on Juneteenth and learn more about the history and recognition of the holiday.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the US. Under the Emancipation Proclamation of 1862, enslaved citizens were considered free after the Civil War. Juneteenth was then first celebrated in Texas in the mid-1860s, but it wouldn’t become a federal holiday for another 150 years.
Previous celebrations of Juneteenth were held primarily by church-oriented communities, as African Americans were prohibited from using public facilities due to racist segregation laws. Over time, other African Americans in the South began celebrating the day. Eventually, by the end of the 20th century, all U.S. states and the District of Columbia recognized the day by celebrating African-American freedom and the arts.
Is Juneteenth a federal holiday?
Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021 by then-former president Joe Biden and Congress passed the law Juneteenth National Independence Day Act passed into law. It was the first new federal holiday approved since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was introduced in 1983.
“This is a day of great weight and great power, a day when we remember the moral stain, the terrible toll that slavery took and continues to take on the country,” Biden said at the time as he signed the legislation for Juneteenth. “I hope this is the beginning of a change in the way we interact with each other.”
Are businesses open on Juneteenth?
Like all federal holidays, certain businesses choose to change their hours or close for a day. Supermarkets and convenience stores may change their hours in observance of Juneteenth. However, major chains such as Walmart and Target are expected to be open during normal business hours.
Banks, the stock market, the post office, schools and all federal agencies will be closed on June 1. Hourly workers in America should get paid vacation days if they work on June 19.
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