Is There Mail Delivery on Juneteenth? When is Juneteenth 2024?

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth, also called Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated every year on June 19 to mark the end of slavery in the country. The name "Juneteenth" comes from combining "June" and "nineteenth" because it was on June 19, 1865, that Major General Gordon Granger enforced the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas, at the end of the Civil War.

This date is important because it represents the day enslaved people in Texas learned they were free under the Emancipation Proclamation. However, this freedom only applied to the Confederate states. Enslaved people in other states that stayed with the Union were not freed until the 13th Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865.

Is There Mail Delivery on Juneteenth?

On the upcoming Juneteenth holiday this Wednesday, most restaurants, grocery stores, and retail shops will remain open. However, banks will be closed, and there won't be any mail delivery from the United States Postal Service.

If you're expecting mail, it's important to remember that USPS won't be delivering on Juneteenth. It's a good idea to plan accordingly if you're expecting packages or important letters.

When is Juneteenth 2024?

On Wednesday, June 19, it's Juneteenth, a holiday that marks the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas with Union troops to announce that over 250,000 enslaved Black people in Texas were free. This happened two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.

Juneteenth is considered America's Second Independence Day and has been a federally recognized holiday since 2021. It gives millions of Americans a paid day off and a chance to remember the end of slavery.

Is Juneteenth a Federal Holiday?

Juneteenth, which is happening this week, has been a federal holiday in the U.S. since 2021. However, the celebrations of Juneteenth are not new at all.

Even before it became a federal holiday, Juneteenth was widely celebrated, especially within Black communities. Now, with its federal recognition, Juneteenth is becoming more widely acknowledged across the country. Many people have the day off from work or school, and there are numerous events like street festivals, fairs, concerts, and more to commemorate the occasion.