Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is a holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the United States state of Texas and, more generally speaking, the liberation of enslaved African people throughout the former Confederate States of America.  The word Juneteenth is a hybrid of the month June and the 19th day of that month -- which is the date when most people observe this holiday.