Juneteenth, which 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 observed. As Americans across the country celebrate the holiday today, many are wondering how it will impact work hours and daily operations.
So, this year’s holiday, we’re breaking down what you can expect from local businesses. Find out below what’s open or closed on Juneteenth and learn more about the holiday’s history and popularity.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Under the Emancipation Proclamation of 1862, enslaved civilians were deemed free after the Civil War. Juneteenth was then celebrated in the mid-1860s in Texas for the first time, but it would not become a federal holiday for another 150 years.
Previous Juneteenth celebrations were held primarily by church-centered communities since African Americans were prohibited from using public facilities amid segregation laws. Over time, other African Americans throughout the South began to celebrate the day. Eventually, by the late twentieth century, all US states and the District of Columbia observed the day by celebrating African American freedom and the arts.
Is Juneteenth a federal holiday?
Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021 while former Pres Joe Biden Congress issued The National Juneteenth Independence Day Act becomes law. It was the first new federal holiday approved since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.
“This is a day of profound weight and profound power, a day on which we remember the moral stain, the terrible toll that slavery inflicted and continues to inflict on this country,” Biden said at the time while signing the Juneteenth legislation. “I hope this is the beginning of a change in the way we treat each other.”
Are businesses open on Juneteenth?
Like all federal holidays, some businesses choose to change their business hours or close for the day. Grocery stores and supermarkets may change their hours in observance of Juneteenth. However, large chains like Walmart and Target are expected to be open during regular business hours.
Banks, stock market, post office, schools and all federal agencies will be closed on Juneteenth. Hourly workers in America should have paid leave if they work on June 19.
