Our country has eleven national holidays, and each one remembers something different. Let's meet a few more.
Key idea
Juneteenth (June 19) remembers the end of slavery. Labor Day (the first Monday in September) honors workers.
Why it works
For a long time, many people in our country were enslaved: they were not free. On June 19, 1865, soldiers brought the news to Galveston, Texas, that the enslaved people there were free. People there celebrated, and in 2021 Juneteenth became a national holiday. Labor Day became a national holiday in 1894 to thank the people whose work builds the country.
| Day | When | What it remembers |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus Day | Second Monday in October | Columbus's 1492 voyage; many places also mark Indigenous Peoples' Day |
| Flag Day | June 14 | The first flag, chosen in 1777 |
| Constitution Day | September 17 | The Constitution, signed in 1787 |
Common mistake
Some children think every holiday is the same: a day off school. Each holiday has its own reason. Ask: "What does this day remember?"
For the grown-up: The eleven federal holidays are New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Slavery is told more fully in Slavery and Freedom.