Juneteenth

I never understood this holiday.

 “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.” 

This statement by General Gordon was just flat out not true. The Emancipation Proclamation, made effective on January 1, 1863, only "freed" the slaves in the seceded states. I put "freed" in quotes because there was no way of enforcing the proclamation in the Confederacy.

It didn't free any slaves in states that had remained in the Union.

It was important because it marked a major change in the declared objectives of the North. Now they were not only fighting to preserve the Union but to end slavery. This made it almost impossible for Britain or France, whose sympathies were with the South, to intervene in the war.

Slavery in the US didn't actually end until the 13th Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865. So I could see either January 1st or December 6th as celebrations for the ending of slavery but not June 19th.

Then again we celebrate Christmas on December 25th (Saturnalia) when Jesus may have been born in March or April or September or October depending upon who you listen to, so, I suppose it doesn't really matter.