What do you do to celebrate Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is a holiday signifying the date June 19, 1865, when a Union general told the slaves in Galveston, Texas that slavery had been abolished – two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves. Last year Juneteenth became an official national holiday, after congress passed the Juneteenth Act and President Biden signed it into law on June 17, 2021.
According to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, “Juneteenth is a time to gather as a family, reflect on the past and look to the future”. You can celebrate this holiday in many ways, including music and food!
Juneteenth celebrations often include picnics or cookouts, customarily celebrated with foods red in color. The color red signifies ingenuity and resilience in bondage and it’s also a nod to drinks traditional to West Africa that were made with hibiscus flowers and red kola nuts, according to historian Adrian Miller.
Some red produce options for your Juneteenth celebration include:
- Strawberries – in-season right now, you could celebrate Juneteenth by visiting a strawberry patch to pick and enjoy this fresh fruit. Strawberries can also be added to fresh squeezed lemonade, combined with basil to make a refreshing infused water, or used in desserts like strawberry shortcake.
- Red cabbage – you could make a crunchy red cabbage slaw with a red wine vinaigrette.
- Watermelon – eat as is, make it the centerpiece of a fantastic fruit salad, or create a fun fruit pizza.
- Beets – roast and add to a salad, or puree into a colorful dip.
- Red beans – try a traditional red beans and rice dish.
Other traditional foods served at Juneteenth celebrations include collard greens, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, corn bread, red velvet cake, strawberry soda, and smoked or barbecued meats.
Whichever foods you choose to add to your Juneteenth celebration, I hope that you enjoy your holiday!
Writer: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension, Franklin County.
Reviewer: Lisa Barlage, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension, Ross County.
Sources:
National Museum of African American History and Culture. Juneteenth. https://nmaahc.si.edu/events/juneteenth
Turner, T. (2021). Chow Line: Healthy red food options for Juneteenth. https://cfaes.osu.edu/news/articles/chow-line-healthy-red-food-options-for-juneteenth
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