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  • Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S., is a federal holiday observed on June 19.
  • Non-essential federal government offices, post offices, and the stock market will be closed on Juneteenth.
  • UPS and FedEx will maintain normal operations with package delivery services available.

On June 19, America celebrates the day the last enslaved Black people were finally told they were free.

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day or the Second Independence Day, celebrates Black freedom in the United States. Thursday marks the fifth year that Juneteenth has been a federal holiday.

Here’s what to know.

Is Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2025?

Yes. Former President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a holiday in 2021. It is one of 11 federal holidays observed every year. The others are:

  • New Year’s Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
  • Washington’s Birthday/Presidents Day
  • Memorial Day
  • July 4
  • Labor Day
  • Columbus Day
  • Veterans Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Day

When is Juneteenth observed in 2025?

Juneteenth will be celebrated on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

What is Juneteenth?

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Juneteenth’s history and meaning explained by African American Civil War Museum director

Frank Smith, director of the African American Civil War Museum, explains the origin of Juneteenth and its journey to becoming a national holiday.

Josh Morgan, USA TODAY

Juneteenth marks the day, June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved Black people in the United States were finally told — 2½ years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after the Civil War ended — that they were free.

The first Juneteenth celebration was held in Galveston the very next year, in 1866. Early celebrations were smaller, subdued affairs amid renewed calls for racial segregation and the rise of racial violence, lynchings and Jim Crow laws in the state and across the South.

It wasn’t until the civil rights protests of the 1960s and 70s many decades later when Juneteenth was finally celebrated in a big way as an act of defiance and pride, and it gained new prominence in 2020 after the police murder of George Floyd, a Black man, sparked protests across the country against police brutality, according to USA TODAY.

Is Juneteenth a paid holiday in North Carolina? Do we work on Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is a federal holiday, not an official state one. For federal workers, it’s a paid holiday and nonessential federal workers will have the day off, although some businesses offer it as a paid day for their employees.

Only about half of the states in the U.S. recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday, although more are considering it. North Carolina’s state offices will be open Thursday. While all non-essential federal government buildings will be closed, the rest is up to individual retail outlets, restaurants and governments.

Why is it called Juneteenth?

“Juneteenth” is a portmanteau, combining the words “June” and “nineteenth,” the day Granger issued the proclamation to more than 250,000 formerly enslaved people in Galveston Bay, Texas.

What is closed on Juneteenth 2025?

Juneteenth is a federal holiday. All non-essential federal offices will be closed.

Is the post office open on Juneteenth? Will mail be delivered?

Postal service retail locations will be closed Thursday and there will be no regular mail delivery except for holiday premium Priority Mail Express, the United States Post Office said in a release.

Does UPS deliver on Juneteenth?

UPS Store locations will be open on June 19, according to the company’s holiday schedule, and UPS pickup and delivery services will be available.

Does FedEx deliver on Juneteenth?

All FedEx offices will be open on June 19 and all services will be available, the company website says.

Are banks closed on Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is a Federal Reserve bank holiday, according to Bankrate.com. The Federal Reserve is the organization that regulates the nation’s banking system.

Banks aren’t required to close for Federal Reserve holidays, but they generally do. Check with your local bank or credit union to check their hours.

Online banking services and ATMs will still be available, but any transactions made during on June 19 won’t be posted until the next business day.

Is the stock market open or closed on Juneteenth?

The New York Stock Exchange is closed on federal holidays and will be closed on Juneteenth, according to its website.